Wamp: Chattanooga Would Be "Excellent Choice" For Volkswagen
May 20, 2008

Rep. Zach Wamp said Monday that Volkswagen "will make an excellent choice" if they choose Chattanooga for a $1 billion new automotive plant.

He said Chattanooga has "a lot to offer, including an incredible quality of life."

Rep. Wamp said he was part of a group that gave "an impressive presentation" to Volkswagen officials last Thursday evening at the home of Sen. Bob Corker in Riverview. Others attending included Sen. Lamar Alexander, Gov. Phil Bredesen, state Economic and Community Development Director Matt Kisber, Mayor Ron Littlefield, County Mayor Claude Ramsey, UT President Dr. John Petersen, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, TVA Board Chairman William Sansom, Chamber of Commerce officials, County Commissioners Bill Hullander and Jim Coppinger and City Councilman Jack Benson and others. There were about 35 members of the Volkswagen delegation.

Speaking at the Mountain City Club to a local transportation association, he said Enterprise South will eventually land a big fish.

He said, "I don't know if Volkswagen is going to choose Chattanooga, but I'm here to tell you eventually it is going to happen. It is not a matter of if, but when."

Rep. Wamp said Volkswagen is a good fit for Tennessee because he said the company is interested in diesel-powered vehicles and the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have one of three bio-fuels research labs in the country.

Rep. Wamp noted that he flew a delegation to California when Chattanooga was making a bid for a Toyota plant.

He said he believes Mississippi Gov. Haley Barber was a big factor in winning that plant for his state.

Rep. Wamp said, "I hope and believe we have the right team in place this time."

He said Chattanooga "clearly is one of the top sites" being considered by Volkswagen.

The Volkswagen delegation had previously visited a site in Michigan as well as one at Huntsville, Ala.