Is Volkswagen considering building another plant in Chattanooga?

Speculation building after reports in Germany today

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Chattanooga is abuzz today over talk about a new Volkswagen plant in our area.

In fact, local Volkswagen officials tell us right now it is just speculation at this point.

The story began with a Reuters news agency report out of Berlin posted early this morning (our time).

They are citing a source in the company saying that VW is considering the expansion of their production facilities in Chattanooga to build both the electric ID.buzz van and a new electric pickup truck for America.

The source says the move would help the German company expand their market share in North America, which has their greatest growth potential.

We reported a couple of weeks ago that Volkswagen’s CEO in North America was lobbying for an all-electric pickup for the U.S. market.

The Reuters report implies that someone is listening in Berlin.

Of course, Volkswagen is remaking their lineup to go electric.

They began pilot production of the ID.4 electric crossover here in March that the company plans to launch in America this fall.

But officially, the new plant is still speculation.

However, a German magazine reported today that the company was planning to build a second production plant in the U.S to increase production capacity to 600,000 vehicles per year.

They say it would be next to the current Chattanooga factory.

And they say VW is also considering building a battery cell plant.