A little more than nine years after the first Chattanooga-built Volkswagen Passat sedan rolled off the assembly line, the factory has produced its 1 millionth vehicle.
The car that hit the milestone also is a Passat – a 2020 Aurora Red Metallic R-Line, according to the German automaker.
“It’s gratifying to me that our team is back to work and able to mark yet another key milestone since the opening of VW’s Chattanooga plant,” said Tom du Plessis, president and CEO of Volkswagen Chattanooga. “Part of us getting back to normal is taking time to recognize these important achievements which are only possible because of the hard work and commitment of our exceptional team here in Chattanooga.”
The Chattanooga plant has assembled Passats since 2011. The Atlas SUV and Atlas Cross Sport SUV were later added to the plant’s production line-up.
The first Passat and those still produced at the plant are specifically designed for the U.S. market. It’s larger than the European vehicle to offer the kind of interior and trunk space that American buyers expect from a midsize sedan.