VW building $1 billion factory in Tennessee; plans to triple U.S. sales by 2018

[HoosierRon]

VW to Build New $1B Plant in Tennessee

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. announced that it will build a US automotive production facility in Chattanooga, Tenn., where it will produce a mid-sized sedan designed specifically for the North American market.

VW plans to sell 800,000 units in the US by 2018, and the new plant will play a key role, according to Prof. Martin Winterkorn, CEO. Volkswagen sold 230,572 total units in the US in 2007. Initial production capacity for the facility is anticipated to be 150,000 vehicles, including the new mid-sized sedan. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2011.

[silverghost]

Wow..... there's some news for ya............. Another foreign auto maker is building a factory in the USA. I would have ever guessed that would happen.

[genjy]

Originally Posted by silverghost

Wow..... there's some news for ya............. Another foreign auto maker is building a factory in the USA. I would have ever guessed that would happen.

I thought only Japanese and Korean companies are foreign automakers??

[HoosierRon]

Originally Posted by genjy

I thought only Japanese and Korean companies are foreign automakers??

That's an odd thought. But since "patriotism" is now considered xenophobic, I should not be surprised. American schools celebrate Cinco de Mayo with fiestas. They celebrate President's Day talking about slavery.

[Kennyboy]

Blah. I predict VW will pull out of the U.S. market by 2020.....

[Clownzilla]

Well, VW & Audi are really the only Non-American owned car brands that I would consider purchasing. I am less angry (note that I am still angry) that VW is building a factory here as opposed to additional Toyota & Honda factories. Although,I really don't know how they are going to triple sales in the short time span they are quoting.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

But since "patriotism" is now considered xenophobic, I should not be surprised.

Don't start.
You perpetually confuse "patriotism" with "nationalism."

[WishIhadatruck]

I'm sure they will have no trouble building more cars but how do they plan to sell them all?

[Bravada]

Now that is a good sign - somebody actually IS interested in the American market yet, apart from those who already have vested interests there (Detroit Big 3 + Japan Big 3) despite it having been pronunced dead.

I am quite excited to learn how VW is going to better tailor its lineup to North American requirements. I guess we might see some interesting models coming, and perhaps more globalization for Skoda & Seat.

OTOH, I believe what tipped VW to push this direction of expansion is the potential in American market's DOWNSIZING, i.e. moving to smaller, more efficient vehicles. This is also an important sign for American automakers about what to expect in the future - not only will it be harder to move gas hogs, but also competition will get even tougher in the traditionally-neglected small vehicle segments from the stalwarts.

[Whitesky]

Glad americans are getting more jobs, unfortunately it's not here in Michigan.

[HoosierRon]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Don't start.
You perpetually confuse "patriotism" with "nationalism."

From dictionary.com

Patriotism: "devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty."

Nationalism: "devotion and loyalty to one's own nation; patriotism."

It seems I am not alone in my confusion.

[t-rex]

Originally Posted by Whitesky

Glad americans are getting more jobs, unfortunately it's not here in Michigan.

You can thank the UAW for that.

Unions are all but non-existent in the South.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Don't start.
You perpetually confuse "patriotism" with "nationalism."

And too many people (NOT an acusation) run around acting as if the former leads inexoribly to the latter.

Red, white and blue used to run deep in the veins of this country's citizens. We've now reached a point in this country where only 26 percent of high-school students surveyed (Sorry, can't recall where I saw this published, though I believe it was USA Today.) even saw the need to have a U.S. national flag.

Newsflash: I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

From dictionary.com

Patriotism: "devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty."
Nationalism: "devotion and loyalty to one's own nation; patriotism."

It seems I am not alone in my confusion.

The 2 terms are not interchangeable.

Too many people (in all countries) think nationalism and patriotism are interchangeable. Though similar, they are not; they are completely different.

Patriotism has been defined as, "devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force upon other people."

Nationalism has been defined as, "identifying oneself with a single nation or an idea, and placing it beyond good and evil and recognizing no other duty than that of advancing its interests.”

Or even more simply put:
Patriot: One who takes pride in his/her country.
Nationalist: One who takes pride in only his/her country.

You are not a patriot. You are a nationalist.

BTW... there's more than 1 definition on Dictionary.com for nationalism

na·tion·al·ism Audio Help /ˈnæʃənlˌɪzəm, ˈnæʃnəˌlɪz-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[nash-uh-nl-iz-uhm, nash-nuh-liz-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. national spirit or aspirations.
2. devotion and loyalty to one's own nation; patriotism.
3. excessive patriotism; chauvinism.
4. the desire for national advancement or independence.
5. the policy or doctrine of asserting the interests of one's own nation, viewed as separate from the interests of other nations or the common interests of all nations.
6. an idiom or trait peculiar to a nation.
7. a movement, as in the arts, based upon the folk idioms, history, aspirations, etc., of a nation.

[Rocket 88]

VW is planning on selling 800,000 cars by 2018. Do they mean annually or until then???

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Don't start.
You perpetually confuse "patriotism" with "nationalism."

No worries until it turns into National Socialism... then the poop hits the fan.