Top Volkswagen officials celebrated the launch of the 2027 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport models at the company’s Chattanooga plant as the German automaker embarks on the most significant downsizing in its history.
While the Chattanooga plant will not be immune from Volkswagen’s plan to cut 100,000 jobs globally by 2030, officials said the facility is essential to its North American strategy.
“The U.S. remains a critically important market for Volkswagen,” Christian Vollmer, the head official over global manufacturing at Volkswagen, said at the ceremony Tuesday. “Our continued investment in products like the Atlas reflects our long-term commitment to American customers. It really is designed around their needs.”
The 2027 model of the seven-seat Atlas features an updated design with more premium features on the interior. It is, according to Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, “the most attractive vehicle that’s ever been built in Chattanooga.” The new Atlas begins at $41,610. The five-seater Atlas Cross Sport shares the same platform and engine as the Atlas with a sloped roofline.
(READ MORE: Volkswagen to recall 2.86 million VW, Audi models over potential steering problem)