Feb 12, 2021
Volkswagen’s commitment to the electrification of its fleet and support of the Paris Climate Agreement requires a steady supply of U.S. sourced batteries. We have invested $800 million to build the ID.4 in Chattanooga and are hiring hundreds of employees to build this state-of-the-art vehicle. Volkswagen has become an unintended victim in the dispute between two battery suppliers. Volkswagen will take all necessary steps to allow us to fulfill our commitment to provide skilled jobs to proud Tennessee workers who will be responsible for building environmentally friendly, battery electric vehicles and moving this country forward. This will include requesting that any carve out for Volkswagen from the Commission’s limited exclusion order be extended to at least four years to give an adequate transition period. Ultimately, however, it is our hope the two suppliers will settle this dispute outside of the courtroom so that U.S. workers and consumers will not bear the long-term negative impacts of this ruling.