Volkswagen Breaks Ground on North American EV Production Facility in Tennessee

[Bayard]

Volkswagen started construction on a $800 million production facility for electric vehicles (EVs) in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The site is set to become the automaker’s assembly base for EV production in North America.

Currently Volkswagen’s Chattanooga manufacturing facility assembles the Passat, the Atlas, and will produce a five-seat SUV that was announced in early 2018.

Readying the plant for EV assembly means building a 564,000-square-foot addition to the body shop, according to the automaker. Both internal combustion engine vehicles and battery electric vehicles will be produced on the same assembly line, Volkswagen says. In addition, Volkswagen plans to build a 198,000–square-foot plant dedicated to battery pack assembly at the Chattanooga site.

Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, called the expansion in Tennessee a big moment for the company. “Expanding local production sets the foundation for our sustainable growth in the US,” he said. “Electric vehicles are the future of mobility and Volkswagen will build them for millions, not just millionaires.”

https://www.environmentalleader.com/2019/11/volkswagen-ev-production-tennessee/

[Hermit-The-Prog]

1. maybe car manufacturers are finally going to get the message

It's long past time that EVs came out of the enthusiasts' garages and gained the benefits of mass production.

People have been converting oil burners to practical EVs for more than half a century.