Q&A

The Volkswagen ID.4 is set to begin localized production in the U.S. in early 2022. The 2-row battery-electric SUV is engineered on VW's MEB platform and will share an assembly line with the MQB-based 3-row Atlas SUV, both rolling off the line at Volkswagen of America's (VOA) Chattanooga, Tennessee facility. Being an EV and using a different architecture, the ID.4 requires a battery-assembly plant and its own body shop, both of which VW is currently completing on the VOA Tennessee site.

During the recent media launch of the all-wheel-drive ID.4, SAE Media senior editor Paul Seredynski spoke with Jacob Hilmes, who is helping create the space whole-cloth as the planning coordination specialist, and Tim Lovvorn, who will serve as its production manager, overseeing production, maintenance, and engineering. The duo has spent the better part of the last few years directing the facility's creation from a greenfield site.