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Nashville Talk Show Host Starts Rumor Volkswagen Might Have Interest In Old Saturn Plant

Joe Legge's picture
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Comments Below: 5

File this one under you can't always believe everything you hear.  Today during a taping of "This Week with Bob Mueller," Nashville Radio Talk Show Host Steve Gill suggested Volkswagen might have an interest in the Spring Hill plant that General Motors announced would be idled.

Gill based his theory on how it might be cheaper for VW to purchase an already built plant with state of the art technology versus starting from stratch.  He also suggested little had been done in Chattanooga as far as site work and construction.

If you see stories develop from this person's opinion, keep in mind they are his opinion and not based on any factual evidence.

During my reporting on VW I have visited the construction site many times.  It is progressing along greatly.  The walls and some roofing on the paint shop are already being installed.  Ground was recently broken on several other sections of the plant, training center, and other on site facilities.  The factory is due to be weather tight this fall.

That's quite an investment to put the brakes on to relocate to the old Saturn plant.  Also, VW has it's own way of doing things and would have to completely retool the old Saturn plant, retrain the workforce, and negotiate with the UAW.

I just wanted to set the record straight before it caused any undo stress for folks here in Chattanooga who have worked long and hard to bring this employer to the community.

Here's my proof, which is actually a few weeks old:


Trying to overcome GM

Hope VW is not trying to overcome GM, anyway thanks for sharing it, can be useful for many other business purpose.


Don't bet on it...

...as far as the companies we at the Germany-USA Career Center work with are concerned, it's still Chattanooga, and there are no indications otherwise.

As the premier provider of recruitment services not only to German, but mostler to American companies working with Germany nationwide, we should - and would - know about such a change of developments.

Rob Delton
Germany-USA Career Center
Dir. Communications
Personnel & Search Services for
Companies Active Both in the US
and in Germany


Super idea

That may very well be a super idea. It could get VW up and running much quicker. The number one reason VW is here is to make a profit. They are not in Chattanooga to provide jobs as much as we may want to believe. And moving in to a facility that would save time could result in millions of dollars. Many of the worker would need very little training. The number of work force would be available without delay if and when additional employees need to be brought on board. It would certainly provide a boost to the economy in the Nashville area. And Chattanooga may end up with a better deal like mass producing something environmentally safe and of great demand world wide.


RE: Super Idea (NOT)

Uh... I doubt VW wants those overpriced union workers from Nashville. Not to mention GM owns that plant, I mean the U.S. Government owns that plant and any sale would take six months or more to complete. By that time, VW will already have their own equipment installed in the Chattanooga plant, which is being built to their specifications and they wouldn't have to retrofit a SUV production facility.


i cant believe people want

i cant believe people want to take something away from us chattanooga folks. sad...


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