The US flag can be seen reflected upon the silver Volkswagen logo in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (picture alliance/FrisoGentsch/dpa/archive)
As part of its plans for expanded e-mobility, German manufacturer Volkswagen is planning to build electric cars also in North America. A production site is currently being sought in the United States, a company spokesman said on Thursday.
The already existing Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, a city in the US state of Tennessee, is a possible option. "A decision has not yet been made," the spokesman said.
Several media had previously reported on the carmaker's US plans.
Volkswagen had announced in mid-May that it planned to increase its investments in e-mobility, autonomous driving and digitalisation to nearly 44 billion euros over the next five years.
The company wants to ramp up its production of electric cars from the end of 2019. At that point, the first purely electric model in the ID range is due to roll off the production line in the German town of Zwickau.
Electric cars are also to be built at VW sites in the German cities of Hanover and Emden in the future. The corporation's brands want to initially launch 50 new all-electric models by 2025.
The spokesman on Thursday declined to provide details on the plans for the United States. Information on possible models and the impact on jobs would only be available after a decision has been made on the location.
In mid-November, Volkswagen chief executive Herbert Diess had stressed the need for speed when it comes to future technologies and the required plant modifications. He said 30 of the 44 billion euros are intended for e-mobility.
In China, its most important individual market, Volkswagen wants to invest more than 4 billion euros in electric cars and digitalisation in 2019 alone.
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