During his one-week trip to the U.S., Lower Saxony Prime Minister Christian Wulff on Sunday visited Volkswagen of America at the Chattanooga site accompanied by an industry delegation.

The guests used the opportunity to find out more about the status of work on the new Volkswagen factory in Tennessee and joined Governor Phil Bredesen to meet more than 100 regional representatives and business leaders.

"The United States is one of the most important markets for the future of the Volkswagen Group. Our goal is to participate in the anticipated recovery on the U.S. auto market and to achieve significant growth,"
Professor Dr. Jochem Heizmann, member of the board of Volkswagen AG with
responsibility for group production, said. "We are creating the framework for this by building our new plant in Chattanooga, a core
element of our strategy in the North America region.

"Our highly attractive and environmentally friendly range of vehicles forms the basis of our present achievements -
worldwide and in the U.S. Our technology leadership combined with local production are the pillars for a successful future for the Volkswagen Group in the U.S."

"A presence in international markets is a prerequisite for economic success," Prime Minister Wulff commented during a tour of the site. He added. "This has again proved particularly true during the present crisis period. As a global company the Volkswagen Group is currently setting standards for successful partnerships worldwide."

Summing up his impressions for the 50-strong delegation, he said, "For me, Volkswagen's new plant in Chattanooga is an excellent example of the dynamic and successful internationalization of Lower Saxony's industry."

"I want to thank Minister President Wulff for taking the time out of his
busy schedule to visit Chattanooga," said Governor Bredesen.

"Myself and Mayors Littlefield and Ramsey as well as all our elected
officials and civic leaders are committed to making this the very best
working relationship."

The Volkswagen Group celebrated the erection of the first wall of the Chattanooga factory in May. By the end of this year, all buildings
on the approximately 5.6 square kilometer site - including the body
shop, paint shop and assembly halls - will have been completed. Work on the interior of the halls will begin in the first half of 2010.

The local team presently comprises some 150 people, one third of them international experts including specialists from Germany. In 2011, more than 2,000 employees will be working for Volkswagen in Chattanooga.

"The Volkswagen brand can look back on a long tradition in the U.S. The beginning of construction work on our new plant in Chattanooga marks a new chapter in our joint history," plant manager Frank Fischer said. "We are fully on schedule with the plant and believe in our lasting success in the American market. Our strong products and great team are the best arguments."

The Chattanooga plant is an important element in the Volkswagen Group's growth strategy, officials said. The objective is to triple the number of
Volkswagen brand vehicles sold in the United States to 800,000 by 2018. In 2011 the state-of-the-art, one-billion dollar plant in Chattanooga will commence production of a model developed specially for the North American market. The plant is designed for an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles.