A group of college students from Chattanooga State Technical Community College and The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga were recently selected by their professors, based on excellence in their academic careers, to participate in Volkswagen's Ride and Drive event on Sept. 12.

The students will have an experience that is very close to an event automotive journalists nationwide participated in this week. They will take their first drive in the new 2009 VW Passat CC. Like the journalists, the students will be asking Volkswagen representatives questions about the cars, VW's product plans and the new production facility in Chattanooga.

VW held a worldwide press conference event in Atlanta, Chattanooga and Nashville this week. The press conference will be replicated as a real world learning opportunity for students. A mock press conference will be held in the Humanities Theatre at Chattanooga State at 10 a.m.

In addition to the student drivers, media technologies, graphic design, marketing, management and students concentrating in other disciplines will participate. "Black Max," the pristine 1964 VW Beetle featured in the current VW ad campaign, will be displayed on the stage. Five VW concept cars will also be parked outside the Humanities Building.

At 10:30 a.m., immediately following the mock press conference, the designated student drivers and their passengers, 28 from Chattanooga State and 24 from UTC, will drive 13 2009 VW Passat CC's in a caravan from Chattanooga State to UTC's campus for a luncheon with local dignitaries.

Students, faculty and administrators from Chattanooga State and UTC will be in attendance as well. The caravan will return to Chattanooga State's campus after the luncheon with a different student driver behind the wheel.

Jill Bratina, director, Corporate Communications, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., said, "Volkswagen is thrilled to be part of the Chattanooga community. We've had such a warm reception here, and are looking forward to showing Chattanooga our sincere appreciation. We see this program as one way to say thanks, and we look forward to future partnership opportunities."

The Volkswagen Group is the third largest automaker in the world. In the United States, the VW Group sells Volkswagens, Audis, Lamborghinis, Bugattis and Bentleys. The corporate headquarters just moved to Herndon, Va., right outside of Washington, D.C. That move was part of a new strategic direction here in the United States.

"The new strategic direction is underpinned by the aggressive goal of tripling U.S. sales to sell 1 million vehicles (800,000 Volkswagens and 200,000 Audis) by 2018. The plant in Chattanooga is another important part of our strategy. VW plans to produce a new vehicle in Chattanooga a midsized sedan developed specifically for the U.S. market," Ms. Bratina said.