Volkswagen unveiled the Atlas, its largest SUV yet, at the Santa Monica Pier on Oct. 27, 2016. The seven-passenger vehicle will be built at VW’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The vehicle and the plant
The Atlas would be larger than any other VW sold in the USA and was expected to launch in spring 2017, 24/7 Wall St. reported. VW invested $900 million to prepare the Chattanooga plant to build it.
U.S. dealers had pushed VW for years to build a vehicle that could compete with similar models from Ford, GM, Toyota and others. The Atlas was offered with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder or a 3.6-liter VR6 engine, both with an eight-speed transmission.
The backdrop
The launch came as VW dealt with its diesel emissions scandal. About a month earlier, VW had settled with 625 U.S. dealers for $1.21 billion, on top of a settlement of nearly $15 billion with owners of diesel-powered cars. The withdrawal of diesel models had cut an estimated 20% of VW’s U.S. sales.
Chattanooga later became the base for VW’s USA electric vehicle production. See our coverage of the ID.4.
FAQ
Where is the Atlas built?
At Volkswagen’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
How much did VW invest?
$900 million to prepare the Chattanooga plant for the Atlas.
When was it expected to go on sale?
Spring 2017.
Source & credit
Source: 24/7 Wall St.: “Volkswagen Introduces Its Made-in-USA Large Crossover”, Oct. 28, 2016.