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Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd said Thursday that the first impression of his new Volkswagen Atlas sport utility vehicle was that it exceeded his expectations.
Officials at Chattanooga's Village Volkswagen dealership, where Boyd picked up the first Atlas sold in America, hope that feeling carries over to lots of other customers.
With the start of sales for VW's Chattanooga-made Atlas, the German automaker is pinning many of its aspirations for a surge in the U.S. on the new seven-seat vehicle and other SUVs.
Jeremy Holsomback, Village Volkswagen's general manager, said VW has never competed in the three-row SUV market before the Atlas.
"It's a well-needed vehicle in this segment," he said after Boyd drove away in a top-of-the-line Tourmaline (Navy) Blue Atlas SEL Premium that sells for about $49,400 with destination charges.
Chattanooga plant spokesman Scott Wilson said the factory now employs about 3,450 people assembling the Atlas and the Passat midsize sedan, which is a new high number for the site.
He said hiring will continue until about the time that Atlas production reaches its peak.
Read more on Time Free Press.