A top Volkswagen brand official said today that Chattanooga’s VW production plant is “first choice” to assemble electric vehicles in the North American market, according to Bloomberg.
Thomas Ulbrich, the VW brand’s head of electric cars, told reporters in Zwickau, Germany, that talks are ongoing with a final decision expected in a few weeks.
Volkswagen AG plans to invest about $1.4 billion to revamp its Zwickau plant into Europe’s largest electric-car factory.
In 2020, VW plans to ramp up electric-car output at two factories in China, the Bloomberg report said.
“We will lead e-mobility out of the niche and make the e-car accessible for millions of people,” said Ulbrich.
The Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, which employs about 3,500, is readying to start production next year of a five-seat version of the Atlas SUV. Also, the company will produce a newly redesigned Passat in Chattanooga.