autoevolution
cars
moto
news
car reviews
spyshots
driven cars
space junk new
green
newspaper
Compare Cars
BAC Calculator
Editorial
Coverstory
Motorsport
Testdrives archive
Auto Shows
Tuning
Car Finder
Photo of the Day
Glossary of automotive terms
Masthead
RSS Feeds
More on this:1 Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn Charged with Conspiracy and Wire Fraud2 Volkswagen to Encourage Internal Whistleblowers3 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Isn't As Practical as Skoda Kodiaq, UK Review Says4 Report: Volkswagen Tiguan Coupe Coming in The Second Half of 20185 Volkswagen Names New Electrify America CEO
Space Junk
Record Chinese Mock Moon Mission Ends Successfully
U.S.-spec VW Passat Celebrates 700,000th Example Built At Chattanooga Plant
9 May 2018, 11:10 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Car Profile
As you’re well aware, sedans aren’t doing that great in the United States of America. In fact, all conventional-bodied passenger cars are playing second fiddle to crossovers and SUVs, which goes to show that demand dictates an automaker’s product lineup. To this effect, the Chattanooga plant will add a second SUV in 2019 in the form of the five-seat Atlas Cross Sport concept.
13 photosBack in March 2018, Volkswagen’s North American division confirmed “the market is shifting from sedans and passenger cars to family-friendly SUVs.” As a consequence of dwindling demand for the Chattanooga-built Passat, the plant will be idled for two weeks this spring. During this period, Volkswagen will re-tool the facility to strengthen Atlas production, the largest SUV in the automaker’s lineup.
Even though the U.S.-spec Passat sold just over 4,000 examples in April, the mid-size sedan has seen better days. The best year of the nameplate was 2012, when Volkswagen delivered 117,023 examples of the breed to North American customers. In 2017, by comparison, sales halved to 60,722 units.
Production of the U.S.-spec Passat started at Chattanooga in 2011, and to date, the Wolfsburg-based automaker managed to roll out 700,000 models. The 700,000th Passat is the Reflex Silver-painted GT pictured in the featured photo, boasting a two-tone interior, 3.6-liter VR6 engine, and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.
“The history of Volkswagen Chattanooga is intertwined with the history of the U.S. Passat. As we grow and add models, we take pride in continuing to produce quality Passats in the state of Tennessee,” declared Antonio Pinto, president and head honcho of Volkswagen’s Chattanooga production facility. “I am very proud of our team for reaching this important milestone and look forward to more to come.”
Different from the ground up compared to the European model, the North American sedan is scheduled for a complete redesign in 2019. And as expected, the newcomer will transition to the better-handling MQB platform of the European Passat.
click to load comments for this story
Toyota Beat Volkswagen. And That’s That.
Formula E Rules and Regulations Explained
Royal Weddings Cars and Carriages
Auf Wiedersehen, Diesel?
The Dos and Don’ts of Washing a Motorcycle, Part One
The Biggest Anticipations in Motorcycling for 2016, Part 1
Could Volkswagen Group's Electric Plans Include Ducati?
The Dos and Don’ts of Washing a Motorcycle, Part Two (Final)
Dubai Police Supercars Explained: The Full Story
Tesla's Response to the Model X Crash Is Just Not Good Enough
Formula 1 Energy Recovery System Explained
NASA Lunar Outpost – The Gateway to Our Future
On Electric Harleys and New Generations
Audi Procon-Ten: The No-Airbag Safety System
Chasing Dragons – The Boeing Starliner Space Capsule
Tank Vs. Well
How the European eCall Emergency System Works
Headwave TAG Helmet Music and Navigation System Reviewed
Booth Girls Have Cooties
WLTP and RDE Tests Explained
Blue Origin's Race to the Stars
VOLKSWAGEN models:VOLKSWAGEN Touareg Medium SUVVOLKSWAGEN up! 5 doors MiniVOLKSWAGEN up! 3 doors MiniVOLKSWAGEN up! GTI MiniVOLKSWAGEN Jetta CompactAll VOLKSWAGEN models
“+
“”+
“”;
if(i==2 || i==5) txt+='googletag.cmd.push(function() {var slot4 = googletag.defineSlot(“/1004334/AE_news_300x250_ATF_240s”, [300, 250], “AE_news_300x250_ATF_240s__slot_4”).setTargeting(“test”, “refresh”).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display(“AE_news_300x250_ATF_240s__slot_4″);setInterval(function(){googletag.pubads().refresh([slot4]);}, 240000);});'+'ipt>';
}
txt+=””;
$('#morescroll').html(txt);
nxloaderactive=false;
});
}
function aenext_lzy() {
$(window).on(“scroll”, function() {
if(nxstories!=false) return;
var footOffset = $(“#footer”).offset().top;
if($(window).scrollTop() > footOffset – $(window).height() – 600) aenext_load();
});
}
function aenews_fixoverlaps_actual() {
window.aeoverlapst=-1;
var $rsoc=$(“.rightsocial”).first();
if($rsoc.length!=0) {
var rsocofs=$rsoc.offset().top;
var $newsgal=$(“.newsgal”).first();
if($newsgal.length==0) return;
var ngofs=$newsgal.offset().top+$newsgal.height();
if(rsocofs