DETROIT — While Detroit and Michigan are recovering from the recession and auto industry meltdown, the South is surging with two new assembly plants slated to open this year.
Volkswagen’s Chattanooga assembly plant and Toyota’s manufacturing facility near Tupelo, Miss., along with their suppliers will employ thousands of new workers as the auto industry continues a shift South.
“Tennessee is poised for great things,” said U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., at the North American International Auto Show this week.
Corker said he’s still hopeful Detroit comes back strong.
“Alan Mulally is one of my heroes,” he said about the Ford Motor Co. chief executive. At the auto show, Ford announced plans to hire as many as 7,000 workers over the next two years.