Automotive News reports the decision could come as soon as next week at the earliest, though execs either don’t know or cannot say for sure, citing the automaker’s board’s tendency to keep things close to its Teutonic heart. Two locations up for nomination include Mexico and the beleaguered-by-politics plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. Either way, the new SUV will be produced and sold for the U.S. and Canadian markets.
The only roadblock for production in the U.S. is whether or not a $300 million packaged offered by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development — pulled off the table in January of this year ahead of a then-impending United Auto Workers election at the Chattanooga facility — will actually be offered. Department PR chief Clint Brewer stated in an email that his department has attempted to contact VW, but nothing more has come of it thus far.
I’m gonna guess the announcement will say Puebla. I might be crazy but I can’t see Chattanooga getting it after this whole UAW clusterbleep that continues on.
Don’t forget the TN govt and the rest of the UAW opponents. It takes two to clusterbleep.
OMG I forgot about Clutch McCargo and that creepy moving mouth thing!
What other organizational council can step into the void? Perhaps their chances would be better…..
The UAW has poisoned that well – like it has done everywhere else.
TN would be smart not to give VW anything because the VW BofD is under orders from the German union. The UAW can’t win an honest election but VW can double cross the workers by recognizing the union w/o a secret ballot vote.
The German union would like another Westmoreland-like failure and it seems they will eventually get their wish.
The fact that Mexico production is tariff-free to many more markets holds much more sway than anything that has to do with the UAW.
But Senator Corker promised…
I don’t see it going to TN. The Germans made a stink about needing a works council, so I expect them to stick to their threat.
Last time, I got yelled by some offended people for saying this was a manly looking SUV. So I will say it again here. I like the blocky look quite a lot.
Don’t remember that article, but I will say if I’m going to drive a vehicle that is tall and uniframe I would much rather be in a minivan then a wanna be SUV.
CUVs – all the drawbacks of an SUV, minivan, and a car combined into 1 vehicle, for the moms with identity crisis, everywhere!
Heh, this is one of the few things you have written lately that I agree with 100%.
Yup. If only moms could embrace the brown station wagon. They won’t accept the diesel/manual, but maybe if you jack it up, add cladding for a rugged, outdoorsy look, and give it AWD and call it a camper-sport…
Or a family Jeepster….
Butt how do you feel about that deriere?
http://indianautosblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/VW-CrossBlue-Concept-at-NAIAS-2013-21.jpg
Looks to me like they took a page from Acura’s “Chrome Everywharrr” book.
Dislike the back, it’s to van-y. And those brake light clusters will look dated quickly. And the rear design overall has already been done with the gen1 Touareg.
I hope it does go to Mexico. They will have to set up the tooling for AWD. Then they could build the Golf Sportwagen AWD that was at NY Auto Show. This could be a win.
Long term, the lower production costs in Mexico will outweigh a $300 million package. The only problem with Puebla is that it’s downwind from Popocatepetl volcano.
Transportation costs and distance must be factored in too, but I think you are right.
Why would you hope Americans lose a solid middle class job?
Somehow I don’t think Tennessee will be the choice of VW.
Choosing Tennessee will create to much political heat.
I’ll bet Mexico.
By the way that Crossblue looks great. I do like the look of some of the latest offerings from VW.
I like that Amarok looking front end.
It doesn’t have one of those small dick over sized big rig pickup grilles. That’s what makes the Amarok more attractive as a pickup.