New Volkswagen Passats are seen behind the Chattanooga assembly plant’s building.BY THE NUMBERS* 3 – Auto assembly plants in Tennessee* 900 – Auto manufacturers and suppliers in the state* 105,700 – Tennesseans employed in auto manufacturing jobsSource: Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
Three years ago, the American auto industry was in a heap.
Bankruptcies by General Motors and Chrysler, plant shutdowns from suppliers and the layoffs of longtime workers littered the landscape.
But as the Southern Automotive Conference opens today in Chattanooga, the industry’s recovery is accelerating nationally and in Tennessee.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see the number of auto suppliers double [in Tennessee] in the next 10 to 15 years,” said U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.