A new study by Ernst & Young says that Volkswagen Group of America was responsible for 16,794 direct and indirect jobs and provided more than $1 billion in total labor income in Tennessee in 2015.
Also, the company has helped generate $7.8 billion of gross output for the state, according to the study.
Nationally, Volkswagen Group of America operations and its dealers were responsible for 119,830 direct and indirect U.S. jobs in 2015, generating nearly $25 billion of economic output, the study found.
VW has a manufacturing plant in Chattanooga that is expected to employ about 3,500 people by mid-April as the company ramps up production of a new midsize sport utility vehicle. The company also has started up an Engineering and Planning Center adjacent to the factory.