Volkswagen is reaffirming its commitment to its lone USA plant in Tennessee in light of a diesel emissions cheating scandal that has rocked the German automaker. Volkswagen Group CEO Matthias Müller announced earlier on Thursday that all of the automaker’s 300 models would be examined for profitability, but the company’s seven-passenger SUV destined for production in Tennessee has apparently passed that test, or is at least too far down the production path to stop. VW says it is moving forward with the $900 million investment plan to build the SUV.
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Volkswagen Group of America CEO Michael Horn said that “the clear commitment to the Chattanooga location confirms our engagement in North America and our confidence in the local team”.
VW will expand the Chattanooga plant by about 50,000 square feet to ready it for the SUV, which it will start producing near the end of next year. Currently, more than 2,400 employees work at the plant; this summer, the 500,000 U.S.-built Passat was built.
The German auto maker plans to invest $600 million in Tennessee and create additional 2000 jobs in the U.S.
Volkswagen will focus on the specific wishes of USA customers more than ever, said the company.
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Last month Volkswagen admitted to the EPA that it used software in 482,000 of its diesel cars sold in the U.S.to trick emissions tests.
