Secretary Ray LaHood
--Remarks as Prepared--
Grand Opening of Volkswagen Manufacturing Facility
Good afternoon. Thank you, Frank, for the introduction. Thank you, Martin, for inviting me to visit this extraordinary facility – and for Volkswagen’s commitment to hiring American workers and putting down roots in the United States. Thank you for joining us, German Ambassador Scharioth. And thank you, all, for the warm welcome to the Volunteer State, especially – Senators Corker and Alexander, Governor Haslam, former Governor Bredesen, Congressman Fleischmann, and my dear friend Zach Wamp.
This is a great day for Volkswagen, for Tennessee, and for America. So I’m thrilled to be with you to celebrate.
The work that’s happening here couldn’t be more exciting or important. It’s the touchstone example of what President Obama means when he says that American workers can still out-build the competition – which is why Volkswagen has decided to put 2,000 of them to work manufacturing the cars of the future right here. It also represents significant progress toward a solution to one of our nation’s most pressing challenges.
During the last few months, families have shouldered an enormous burden with the rising price of gasoline. In many places, gas is now more than $4 a gallon, meaning that you could be paying more than $60 to fill up your tank.
Clearly, our transition to a more economically and environmentally sustainable economy won’t happen overnight. But there is little doubt that we’re meeting at a time of transition for the automotive industry.
For a century, Americans planned and paved a transportation system that reflected a single, unquestioned assumption – the belief that the world’s supply of cheap oil was endless. Today, we know this just isn’t true. Families pay more for transportation than for food, education, health care, or anything else in the household budget besides housing. Other imperatives – like responsible stewardship of our air and climate – are on Americans’ minds like never before.
But because of President Obama’s leadership and your hard work, we’re on a smarter path forward. We’re on the verge of a new kind of transportation system for a new century – and clean-diesel must be a part of it – not just because it’s the right thing for America, but because it makes economic sense for American families and businesses.
Now, the technology you’re putting into Passats here can really make a difference. I know these cars can get between 40 and 50 miles per gallon, returning between 700 and 800 miles on a single tank. They also emit 30 percent less carbon pollution while helping to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.
We know that clean diesel is one ingredient in the recipe for long-term energy security. If one-third of all United States vehicles were clean diesel, we would save 1.4 million barrels of oil a day. That’s the same amount of oil America imports from Saudi Arabia. So this is a big deal.
Of course, the other great success story underway is about jobs. These cars will be built with 85 percent North American parts. And that doesn’t just translate into 2,000 direct jobs here. It also translates into 9,500 indirect jobs across Tennessee. It sets off a powerful ripple effect as suppliers start buying new goods and hiring new employees, as workers start spending more money and their families start shopping or going out to eat again, as small businesses start purchasing more inventory and hiring additional staff.
So, my message for you is this: This is where our economy is rebounding – and where our workers are regaining their footing. And when companies like Volkswagen harness their resilient, entrepreneurial spirit, we can build a 21st century transportation system that uses less petroleum and sends fewer of our hard-earned dollars overseas – while also spurring economic development, opportunity, and competitiveness.
Please keep up the great work. We’re counting on your great ideas. We’re counting on your leadership. We’re counting on your partnership. Together, we will make the promise of America’s clean-diesel auto industry into reality. Thank you very much.
