BERLIN—Volkswagen has for the first time edged past Toyota as the world’s No. 1 automaker during the first half of 2015. VW sold 5.04 million units from January to June, while Toyota’s count during the same period was 5.02 million.
BAUNATAL, Germany—A robot accidentally killed a worker at Volkswagen’s automotive assembly plant here. The robot pressed the worker up against a metal plate, crushing his chest.
CHATTANOOGA, TN—Volkswagen has begun the process of hiring 130 engineers and technicians to staff the automaker’s new R&D center here, which will be fully operational by 2017.
CHATTANOOGA, TN—Volkswagen has begun an project to add more than 500,000 square feet of space to its assembly plant here. VW will overhaul the assembly, body and paint shops and add 2,000 employees.
CHATTANOOGA, TN—Volkswagen has recognized a new group called the American Council of Employees (ACE) to represent workers at its assembly plant here, in addition to the United Auto Workers. ACE is an alternative to and has campaigned against the UAW, which a year ago lost an election to be the sole representative of workers at the plant.
CHATTANOOGA, TN—Volkswagen is thinking about introducing new variants of the Passat and CrossBlue SUV to the North American market, and it could assemble one or more of the vehicles in Chattanooga.
CHATTANOOGA, TN—Construction of Volkswagen’s planned $900 million expansion of its assembly plant here is expected to begin in earnest soon. The company plans to enlarge the body shop, technical center and assembly finish area.
CHATTANOOGA, TN—The UAW expects Volkswagen to announce soon a policy change that would allow for union representation at the company’s assembly plant here, where the union has faced challenges organizing workers. Earlier this year, the UAW lost a vote to represent about 1,500 workers at the Chattanooga plant but the union still claims it has the support of a majority of the employees.
WOLFSBURG, Germany—Volkswagen has developed a new, automated process for mass-producing finished thermoplastic exterior car body parts. The technology combines injection molding, physical foaming, and two-component polyurethane injection molding in one complex tool.
CHATTANOOGA, TN—Volkswagen is set to commence production of the new midsize SUV at its assembly plant here. The company plans to invest around $900 million in the production of seven-passenger SUV, a move which will create 2,000 jobs.
