Tennessee governor calls VW ‘our brand’

On the 10th anniversary of Volkswagen’s decision to build its only U.S. assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam on Monday called the VW brand “our brand” after the German automaker invested $2.3 billion and created more than 3,500 jobs in the Volunteer State over the past decade.

“Your brand has become our brand, and while you are making world-class vehicles in Chattanooga, you might not know it, but you are actually helping build Tennessee, as well,” Haslam said in a message to Volkswagen employees in Chattanooga.

Volkswagen has assembled nearly 800,000 Passat and Atlas vehicles over the past decade at its Chattanooga plant, the first LEED Platinum certified automotive factory in the world.

“Volkswagen Chattanooga’s success is important to the overall strategy of the Volkswagen Group,” Antonio Pinto, president and CEO of Volkswagen Chattanooga, said in a statement.

State, local and federal governments invested more than

$818 million in infrastructure, training and other assistance to lure VW to Chattanooga and promote its expansion. But Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppnger said “Volkswagen’s impact on Hamilton County has been remarkable,” noting the car company has paid nearly $4.6 million in payments in lieu of taxes to the Hamilton County Department of Education despite its exemption from most local property taxes.