Volkswagen’s assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is celebrating its 15th anniversary after producing more than 1.85 million vehicles since operations began in May 2011.
The facility, which represents Volkswagen’s only vehicle assembly plant in the United States, has received approximately $4.3 billion in investment over the past 15 years and currently employs more than 4,000 workers.
The anniversary comes shortly after the plant achieved a major production milestone. In April 2026, Volkswagen assembled its one-millionth Atlas-family vehicle, including both the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport models.
Production of the Atlas began in December 2016, and the SUV lineup has become a central component of Volkswagen’s U.S. business. According to the company, the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport together accounted for roughly 30% of Volkswagen’s sales in the United States during 2025.
The Chattanooga facility remains a cornerstone of Volkswagen’s North American manufacturing strategy as the automaker continues to expand its activities in vehicle development, electrification and workforce training.
In 2022, Volkswagen opened its North American Battery Engineering Lab at the Chattanooga campus. The facility focuses on electric vehicle battery testing, validation and high-voltage engineering development.
The automaker has also expanded its research footprint through the Knoxville Innovation Hub, a collaborative initiative involving the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The research center focuses on technologies including lightweight composite materials, electric vehicle range optimization and wireless charging systems.
According to Volkswagen, the innovation hub has supported seven doctoral students and generated nine U.S. patent applications since its establishment.
The company has also invested in workforce development programs designed to support future manufacturing and engineering talent.
Volkswagen said its network of 55 eLabs in regional K-12 schools reaches more than 35,000 students annually through science, technology, engineering and mathematics education initiatives.
The company’s Mechatronics Academy has trained 140 high school students, while its apprenticeship program has graduated 365 participants.
Of those graduates, 160 currently work as full-time employees at the Chattanooga facility.
The investments reflect Volkswagen’s broader efforts to strengthen its manufacturing base, research capabilities and workforce pipeline in the United States as the automotive industry transitions toward greater electrification and advanced vehicle technologies.
The Chattanooga plant continues to play a significant role in Volkswagen’s North American operations, serving as both a production center for key vehicle models and a hub for future technology development.