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Volkswagen Touts New Tennessee Plant

VW board member is touting its new $1 billion Chattanooga facility as ‘the backbone’ of the German automaker's success in the United States.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) -- A Volkswagen board member is touting its new Chattanooga facility as "the backbone" of the German automaker's success in the United States.

Board member Jochem Heizmann, in charge of worldwide production, was speaking Sunday at a gathering of local elected officials and Gov. Phil Bredesen. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that the group also took a tour of the new Volkswagen plant near Interstate 75.

Heizmann says there is a promising future for the German automaker in the U.S. He was part of a contingent of more than 60 German business and government officials who are touring the country.

They visited with Tennessee officials at the Chattanooga Golf & Country Club Sunday morning.

Officials say production at the $1 billion plant is scheduled to start in early 2011.

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