Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations Names Community Relations Specialist

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., April 27, 2009: Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, LLC today named April Wortham as Community Relations Specialist, effective immediately.

Wortham, 31, comes to Volkswagen from Automotive News, where she spent the last several years as a reporter in the trade publication's Nashville, Tenn., bureau. At Automotive News, she was responsible for covering the manufacturing operations of European automakers in the Southeast as well as their suppliers.

"I am delighted to welcome April to the Volkswagen team," said Frank Fischer, CEO of the Chattanooga production facility. "Her background in communications and the automotive industry makes her an ideal person to lead our community and media relations activities here in Chattanooga. Volkswagen wants to be an active member of the community, and April will play a vital role in helping us achieve that."

Prior to Automotive News, Wortham worked for various newspapers in Alabama and Mississippi. A native of Alabama, she holds a journalism degree from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

In her new role, she will be responsible for coordinating Volkswagen activities in the community and working with state and local news media.

Volkswagen Group of America Inc. will invest $1 billion in the local economy for the Chattanooga plant and create 2,000 direct jobs in the region. According to studies, the new Volkswagen plant is expected to generate $12 billion in income growth and an additional 9,500 jobs over the life of the project.