CHATTANOOGA, TN—Volkswagen is ending assembly of its ID.4 electric vehicle at its Chattanooga plant and shifting production toward higher-volume models, as the automaker adjusts its U.S. manufacturing strategy to align with market demand.
The labor contract, in force for 3,200 employees at the automaker’s assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is the first UAW contract at a Southern auto plant outside of the Detroit Three.
DRESDEN, Germany—The site will now be repurposed into a research campus focused on AI, robotics, and semiconductor development in partnership with the Technical University of Dresden, with VW committing €50 million over seven years while retaining limited use of the facility for customer deliveries and tourism.
Volkswagen has been expanding its presence across Africa, recently creating a dedicated "Sub-Saharan" region to oversee operations. The company already has manufacturing and assembly facilities in South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, and Ghana. A similar e-tractor initiative, the GenFarm Project, is already underway in Rwanda, providing sustainable mechanized farming solutions.
KARIEGA, South Africa—Plant Kariega, part of Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA), has set a new production record of 167,084 vehicles in 2024, surpassing its previous high of 161,954 vehiclesachieved in 2019.
IRVINE, CA—Rivian Automotive and Volkswagen Group have formed a joint venture that will develop next-generation electrical architectures and software for electric vehicles.