- VW's Chattanooga factory may build the next-generation North American Golf alongside the Passat.
- The factory is poised to expand its capacity.
- The entire VW global compact family for the U.S., including the next Audi A3, could be built in Chattanooga.
NICE, France — Volkswagen is mulling over production plans for its new plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Inside Line has learned some of the ideas it's considering.
A Volkswagen source wishing to remain unnamed told IL that an important part of the automaker's ambitious plan (to sell 800,000 VW brand cars in the U.S. by 2018) is the pending decision as to whether or not the next-generation 2013 Golf hatchback should be built in Chattanooga alongside the new Passat. Chattanooga plant chief executive Frank Fischer has been quoted as saying that at current full capacity of 250,000, this total volume could be made up of three distinct production lines.
Volkswagen North America President and CEO Jonathan Browning has made it clear that VW here must do much more with both the Golf and modular architecture-sharing Tiguan small SUV. When IL pursued the issue further, we were told that it wouldn't be out of the question to someday build the whole global Golf/Jetta/Tiguan/Scirocco compact family under the same roof as the North American Passat, a car designed for sale also in Canada, Mexico, South Korea and the Middle East.
By association, our contact confirmed the possibilities of the next Audi A3 and Q5 being built in Chattanooga as well, as they share that flexible global architecture.
Inside Line says: Frankly, such a move would be long overdue. Let's just hope it's not too little too late for VW's ambitious North American goals. — Matt Davis, Correspondent
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krazy_croat says:
09:00 PM, 03/10/2011
Sanjojoe...
Have you even been in the new Jetta? What makes it a joke? I was in one TODAY, and apart from the cheaper interior materials (considerly cheaper base price), I loved it. Even then, it blew away the other cars I sat in within its class, the new Elantra being the only possible exception. It didn't actively try to decapitate me at 6'3" like the Corolla/Matrix did. If it retains true German handling and dynamics, which I hear it does, what justifies this comment?
I was also in the Passat, and although it wasn't as nice as the CC, it was very justfied for the price range and class.
tbone85 says:
04:39 PM, 02/01/2011
Gurds7, I am personally offended that you would come on this board and have the audacity to make some sense. I insist you stop it. You are compromising a perfectly good collection of rants.
gurds7 says:
06:35 PM, 01/31/2011
No need to panic everyone. Just because the Golf may be built in the US doesn't mean VW is going to cheap out on it like they did the Jetta. You can't blame them on the Jetta, it is still more solid and quiet than any other compact, but it just couldn't garner sales because of its cost.
In fact, look at the Passat (built in Chattanooga) and they really didn't cheap out at all. It still has the soft touch plastics, IRS, and many premium features, it's just a lot cheaper. Sure they got rid of a few things that people never used, but it is $7000 cheaper than last year's with no drop in quality.
With no de-contenting, the Golf would still be thousands of dollars cheaper if it were built in the USA. It would not be subject to the 1.3x to 1.4x Euro exchange and the cost of shipping them over on boats. Between the MQB and being built in America, I expect at least a few thousand less on the sticker with similar, if not more content. Plus we'd be supporting the US workforce.
k55 says:
01:06 PM, 01/27/2011
how about the forthcoming POLO /POLO GTI?
lions208487 says:
11:58 AM, 01/27/2011
Build toys that don't break, and then I will consider you Das Auto.
cdyer says:
11:45 AM, 01/27/2011
Build more cars here, yes please.
typesh says:
06:44 AM, 01/27/2011
Matt,
"By association, our contact confirmed the possibilities of the next Audi A3 and Q5 being built in Chattanooga as well, as they share that flexible global architecture."
I think you meant the potential upcoming Q3, not Q5. Q3 is said to share the A3/Tiguan, etc. platform, while the Q5 is based on the A4/A5 platform.
Regards,
Kap
mk40 says:
06:43 AM, 01/27/2011
That's great. If we run out of money we can always print more to give to VW and this will make the currency depreciate more & make it cheaper for VW to do production in the US.
But seriously, I think many people are more concerned about how the cars drives and rides and if it is well sorted and most buyers don't want to be too loud and attract too much attention to themselves. Understated style. Really, the only time you see the exterior is when you approach the car. I think the new Passats styling is so perfect.. so spot-on for the high-volume mid-size segment. Perfectly proportioned and understated yet still looks like it's carved from 1 ingot of metal. Give a feeling of solidity when you look at it. I like that they didn't do the 4 dr coupe thing and compromise practiality for a family sedan. Looks very roomy in back. Believe me, 2-3yrs into it living with it on a daily basis you will appreciate the functionality over form. the form over function is more for niche products like the CC to cover rather than a main-stream family sedan. Anyways just my opinion.
delraylocal says:
06:16 AM, 01/27/2011
***NEWSFLASH***
This just in, CEO and President of VW reads a comment on a blog from "sanjojoe" and decides to change the entire company. Haha, lol.
The new Jetta looks like a cheap, non descript, tin can. Although IMO so does a Toyota corrola. I guess they feel that to be the biggest automaker in the world you have to have bland middle of the road styling.
I could never afford to buy something from BMW or Mercedes, but the reason I used to love VW was that I felt like I was getting a cheaper version of them. I used to call my Jetta a "poor man's BMW 3 series."
However, VW seems to be "de-germanizing" all of their vehicles and IMO are losing all of the qualities and soul I used to love about them.
I am going to be buying a new car sometime this week and VW isn't even a consideration.
Thanks for the 20 good years!
sanjojoe says:
11:43 PM, 01/26/2011
I completely agree with you, pleary. The new Jetta is a joke, the new Passat is not looking very promising, and they are slowly but surely de-contenting all of the products in their current lineup or implementing new features in cheap ways(ie placement/design of push button start in 2011 GTI's). Even the A3's interior is looking pretty cheap these days...the dash and door panel materials are extremely rough. While I would love to own an A4, for the same money per month(lease wise) for a reasonably equipped A4 I could go out and get a 335xi. Basically, I think VW needs to get back to making quality cars that people want to drive instead of trying to be the next Toyota. With Toyota size comes Toyota problems...hope someone from VW reads this...