Dozens of new Passats made at the Chattanooga Volkswagen assembly plant are seen parked outside the plant recently.
Staff photo by John Rawlston/Chattanooga Times Free PressIf Volkswagen succeeds with the rollout of its Chattanooga-made Passat, the local plant’s chief said he’s “100 percent sure” the factory will be entrusted with production of a second model.
The number of vehicles assembled in Chattanooga could ramp up quickly if Passat sales take off. But the comments by Frank Fischer, CEO of VW’s Chattanooga operations, are the strongest indication yet that the local plant also will benefit from an additional model.
Factories that produce a single vehicle can be subject to the whims of the consumer market, and a second vehicle line would help assure the long-term viability of the plant and the estimated 2,000 to 2,500 jobs it is expected to provide.
“We now have to prove we’re capable of building excellent quality and performance-driven vehicles,” said Fischer.
Fischer was less specific about a timeline for a future vehicle after the Passat’s launch of customer car production next month, saying a new model could be a year or more away. He also didn’t mention what vehicle might be considered.