Volkswagen to Build Circuit, Supplier Park in Chattanooga

Volkswagen has bigger plans for the new Chattanooga factory than initially announced, the German company aiming to build both a testing circuit and a supplier park near the Tennessee plant. Basically, Volkswagen tries to create its own supplier park for the new factory in order to design new models based on more than 80 percent in-house built parts. However, the German carmaker didn't mention the components to be built by the new plant, but explained that these aspects will be decided by closely analyzing the costs and the quality of the car components, Autonews wrote.

“Not in the short term. Not in the beginning, but in the middle term we have to localize as well engines and gearboxes in the North American region. We will get some engines from our Mexico plant in the beginning, but in the middle term, we will have to do more in the region in engines and powertrains,” Volkswagen Group production chief Jochem Heizmann said according to the aforementioned source.

On the other hand, a potential testing circuit can help the German company in many areas, including testing new cars or improving the special models exclusively addressed to motorsport. “VW sells a lot of cars all over the world and races all over the world,” Kris Nissen, motorsport director for VW, commented on the chances to see new racing models tested on the upcoming circuit.

However, the Volkswagen representatives avoided unveiling too many details about the Chattanooga circuit, but confirmed there are chances to see one in the near future. “I don’t want to get into specifics about how it will be used. There are a lot of possibilities. It’s still in the early stages,” VW spokeswoman Jill Bratina said according to Chattanooga Times Free Press.