Bob Corker defends SUV remark after Volkswagen strikes back

Thursday, February 13, 2014

photo Frank Fischer and Bob Corker are seen in this composite photo.

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U.S. Sen. Bob Corker today defended his comments on Wednesday that VW will announce in coming weeks that it will make a new vehicle at its Chattanooga plant should workers reject the United Auto Workers.

"After all these years and my involvement with Volkswagen, I would not have made the statement I made yesterday without being confident it was true and factual," he said in a statement.

Chattanooga plant chief Frank Fischer said earlier today that there's no tie between the union vote at the plant and where a new sport utility vehicle will be produced.

"There is no connection between our Chattanooga employees' decision about whether to be represented by a union and the decision about where to build a new product for the U.S. market," Fischer said.

Corker said today that the decisions regarding the Volkswagen expansion are not being made by anyone in management at the Chattanooga plant.

The former Chattanooga mayor said he is "very aware Frank Fischer is having to use old talking points when he responds to press inquiries."

VW plant workers are voting through Friday on whether to accept the UAW as its representative.

See more on the UAW Decision in Friday's Times Free Press.