The VW logo is seen on the front of one of dozens of new Passats made at the Chattanooga Volkswagen assembly plant parked outside the plant. These cars will be used as demos for testing, internal quality control and press test drives.A Bradley County, Tenn., woman is Volkswagen's 2,000th employee, but about 75 percent of the automaker's work force is from Hamilton County, officials said Friday.
Some 95 percent of VW's workers are from Tennessee, according to the carmaker.
Amanda Sullivan, of Cleveland, Tenn., the 2,000th hire, is a production team member who will work in the assembly shop, officials said.
Hiring at the plant will continue through early fall at which time there will be about 2,300 employees at the facility.
Frank Fischer, VW's chief executive in Chattanooga, said the automaker has "the right people in place and they are committed to the highest quality standards each and every day."
Hans Herbert Jagla, executive vice president for human resources in Chattanooga, said officials are "very excited to have hired our 2,000th employee and to have reached this milestone which fulfills our promise to Chattanooga and Hamilton County."
The vast majority of the $577 million in financial incentives awarded to VW to locate in the city came from the state and from city and county governments.
"We've been looking forward to this incredible milestone for three years," said Trevor Hamilton, vice president of economic development for the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.
About 1,200 of the 2,000 VW plant employees work in the body, assembly and paint shops, officials said. VW currently is bringing on a second shift at the plant.
"The ramp up ... is always challenging," said Fischer. "We are working a lot of hours. So far it has come along very well."