Business


Volkswagen Expecting 9 Firms In Supplier Park; May Have Distribution Center

Thursday, December 03, 2009
Frank Fischer
Frank Fischer

Volkswagen is expecting nine firms to locate in its supplier park, which will be adjacent to the giant auto plant at the Enterprise South Industrial Park.

Frank Fischer, Chattanooga VW president, said there will be hundreds of jobs at the supplier park.

He declined to name any of the firms that will be locating there.

He said 100 CEOs were recently in Chattanooga for information about being part of the supplier park.

Mr. Fischer also confirmed that Volkswagen is considering setting up a distribution center for the plant.

He said it likely will not be on site, but be within a radius of about 20 miles.

Mr. Fischer, during a press conference on Thursday at the plant site in Tyner, said the facility remains on track for the start of production in early 2011. Over 1,000 employees are on site readying the plant, which will have 2,000 workers.

He said, "The next cars Volkswagen will build will be built right here in Chattanooga, and that is exciting."

He said the auto plant exterior should be complete by the end of the year, and equipment installation will begin early next year.

The training center next door, which will be operated by Chattanooga State, is slated to open next month.

The award of a contract to a design student for a pedestrian bridge going between the plant and the training center will be announced on Jan. 15.

Hans Jagla, personnel director, said some 300 employees are on site, include about 45 from Germany.

He said those who applied for production team jobs will begin hearing from VW in the spring, but some might not get calls until later in the year.

There were 5,000 applications for skilled positions, 25,000 for management posts and 35,000 for production workers.

An assessment team of 24 people is going through the online applications.

Don Jackson, plant manager, said steps are being taken to assure the safety of workers during construction. He said work is being tracked to minimize two different teams of workers from being in the same location at the same time.


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