Volkswagen's top Chattanooga official said Friday at the opening of a new parkway to the automaker's plant that it's looking at a second vehicle to produce at the site.
"The question is what would fit in here," said Frank Fischer, chief executive of VW's Chattanooga operations, after taking part in the opening of Volkswagen Drive.
Fischer, who with Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey and Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield took part in a parade of vintage and newer model VWs, would not say if the automaker is eyeing another car or a different type of vehicle.
But he said the Jetta compact sedan, VW's best-selling vehicle in the United States, is expected to continue to be made in Mexico.
The $1 billion Chattanooga plant is to start production early next year on a new midsize sedan targeting U.S. motorists. The 2 million-square-foot plant will have capacity to build 150,000 vehicles a year.
Auto analysts have said a second car or a small crossover utility vehicle similar to VW's Tiguan could be assembled there.
"I don't think a midsize sedan can support the entire plant," said auto analyst Erich Merkle of autoconomy.com.
He added VW has been "back and forth on Audi," adding, "It wouldn't surprise me if some Audis make their way over if the plant isn't at full capacity."
'MILESTONE'
On Friday, Hamilton County officials and economic developers called the $30 million parkway and Interstate 75 interchange a milestone.
Tom Edd Wilson, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce CEO, said the road is a symbol of something greater than a four-lane connector to the interstate.
He said VW has "put Chattanooga on the map. You've put us at the top of the list for a lot of business decision makers."
Ramsey recalled it was then-Gov. Don Sundquist to whom he first talked about the interchange. Later, Gov. Phil Bredesen helped with funding, while U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp garnered federal money, he said.
"It's a historic occasion," Ramsey said. "It opens one more artery to progress and prosperity. The jobs are here and more are coming."
Littlefield said the parkway travels through some of the 2,800-acre park that buffers the plant site.
"It's a breathtaking thing," he said. "I don't know of any other community that has the mix of manufacturing and outdoor excellence we have right here."
Planners now are looking at a road on the opposite side of the interchange to Collegedale and to the widening of Apison Pike, as well as looking at the parkway's route through the rest of Enterprise South industrial park to state Highway 58.
Larry Young, of Chattanooga, who drove his 1967 VW Beetle in the parade, cited the view from the road coming through the densely forested park and opening up on the plant site.
"It's beautiful," he said.
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