Volkswagen Departs Detroit for Virgina, Seeking Younger, More Educated Workers
The German company, which has its U.S. headquarters in the Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills, will bring 400 jobs and invest about $100 million as it shifts operations to Herndon, Va., the newspaper reported. It said the move will eliminate 400 positions, leaving 600 jobs in suburban Detroit.
Volkswagen of America's new president and chief executive said northern Virginia's good schools, skilled workers and proximity to Dulles International Airport made it an attractive site.
"For a young talent, 35 years old, to come here with his family ... is a very important factor," Stefan Jacoby told the Post. "By reducing this organization by 30 percent, you need even more talents, more creative people, more motivated people."
VW decided in early 2006 that it wanted to move to the East Coast, which he said was home for most of its customers, Jacoby said.
"You want to work in an environment where you see your customers, where you see your cars on the road," he said. "You don't want to work where you basically see only American cars of the Big Three."
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Labor talks resume between GM, UAW
Many local union halls across the nation had mobilized for GM’s 73,000 U.S. auto workers to go on strike, but those preparations were put on hold as it appeared that progress was being made in Detroit. Local 276 at a GM sport utility vehicle plant in Arlington, Texas, told workers on its Web site to report to work as scheduled.
“The instructions for all employees at the General Motors Assembly Plant in Arlington, Texas, remain the same: You are instructed to report to work at your normal time on Monday,” a notice on the Web site said.
Workers again gathered at the union hall near the Spring Hill, Tenn., assembly plant awaiting word from Detroit. Local 1853 President Mike O’Rourke said he also was told by bargainers in Detroit that progress was being made.
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