The Volkswagen Academy has opened at the company's Chattanooga, Tennessee production facility. The academy will prepare new employees to work at the plant. Volkswagen has teamed with Chattanooga State Community College and the state of Tennessee to design the program's curriculum and facility.

"This dual educational track is designed to help workers prepare mentally and physically so that when they enter the plant they are experts in their field, whether it is the body shop, paint shop, or the assembly shop," said Matt Kisber of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

The 163,000-square-foot academy has a conference center, automotive center, automation center, and vocational skills center. It features 19 classrooms and a 100-person capacity cafeteria.

The Tennessee Technology Center, Tennessee Technical University, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are also partners in the academy.