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Earlier this year, Volkswagen halted sales of the ID.4 electric SUV following a recall due to potentially faulty door handles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), moisture can infiltrate the electronic door handles, creating a short circuit that may cause the doors to open unexpectedly while driving. Without a solution to fix the defective handles, VW has opted to temporarily stop production of the ID.4 at its Chattanooga, Tennessee facility.
“Following a thorough review and in light of the ID.4 stop-sale, we will temporarily suspend vehicle production at the Volkswagen Chattanooga plant until we have a remedy,” a Volkswagen representative stated to The Drive.
In conjunction with halting production, Volkswagen will also furlough approximately 200 employees at the Chattanooga site beginning September 23.
“As we work to resolve this issue, our priority remains supporting our employees, dealers, and customers during this disruption,” the statement added. “The furlough of around 200 employees in Chattanooga will start on September 23, with additional support provided by supplementing unemployment benefits from the state of Tennessee. This will ensure they continue to receive 80 percent of their base pay and maintain their benefits. We are also looking for ways to assist our dealers while we find a solution for our customers. This disruption does not change our commitment to the ID.4 and our expanding BEV lineup. The ID.4 continues to be one of the top-selling electric vehicles in the United States.”
This development may strengthen the position of the United Auto Workers (UAW), particularly as VW Chattanooga employees recently voted to unionize, marking them as the first auto plant workers outside the Detroit Three to join the UAW. The timing of the furloughs following this achievement raises concerns for Volkswagen, especially since there is no indication of when production of the ID.4 will resume. Contract negotiations between the union and the automaker began Thursday.
With no fix currently available for the ID.4’s door handle issue, approximately 98,806 owners are left anxiously awaiting a resolution. Fortunately, the NHTSA reports that only 1% of the recalled vehicles may be affected. However, Volkswagen has yet to provide an estimated time for a solution; the report merely indicates that “the planned recall remedy and production countermeasures are still under development.”
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