Volkswagen Academy Celebrates 2026 Graduating Class

August 3, 2026 by Volkswagen
• 27 Volkswagen Academy apprentices graduated this year with A.A.S degrees in Mechatronic Technologies and Electric Vehicle Engineering Technology from Chattanooga State Community College
• All apprentices received conditional job offers from Volkswagen
• Troy Selberg, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Director of Workforce Initiatives, spoke at the graduation, highlighting the importance of apprenticeship programs like the Volkswagen Academy for the workforce’s future readiness

Chattanooga, TN — On July 30th, Volkswagen Group of America recognized 27 Volkswagen Academy students who graduated this year with associate in applied sciences (A.A.S.) degrees in Mechatronics Technology and Electrical Vehicle Engineering Technology. The apprentices have gained both in-classroom theory, hands-on lab training, acquired a year of on-the-job-training, and completed rigorous written and practical assessments to prepare for the next chapter in their careers. Each graduate received a conditional job offer with Volkswagen in Chattanooga and has the opportunity to follow multiple career avenues within the company potentially working as specialists and technicians or even in leadership in the near future.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Director of Workforce Initiatives Troy Selberg joined to celebrate the graduates’ achievements. ‘The U.S. Department of Labor embodies the same team culture that drives successful apprenticeship programs, where experienced professionals mentor the next generation and everyone is working toward a common goal,’ said Director Selberg. ‘It is an honor to address these graduates on behalf of Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. As a former motorsports professional, I learned that sustained success is built on skilled people who are committed to continuous learning, precision, and teamwork. The Volkswagen Academy reflects those same values, preparing these graduates for rewarding careers while strengthening American manufacturing. Congratulations to all 27 graduates on this outstanding achievement. Your future is bright, and the skills you’ve developed will help drive innovation for years to come.’ Director Selberg also toured the Volkswagen Chattanooga plant and Academy, meeting with leadership and team members to discuss the opportunities apprenticeship programs provide and how they fit into broader workforce development programs.

‘Volkswagen sees workforce development as critical to our success,’ said Henning Habicht, Head of Volkswagen Chattanooga Operations. ‘We provide high-tech manufacturing jobs that require significant training. Such specialized training is hard to find so we have decided to develop our own talent. We’re proud of this graduating class – they’re what will power our success!’

Founded in 2011, the Volkswagen Academy trains high school graduates with no experience to become manufacturing athletes. Since the Academy was founded 15 years ago, more than 200 apprentices have graduated from the progroam. Students choose between two programs, Robotronics Technology Expert and Automotive Systems Technology. Through the Robotronics program, graduates are skilled in working on various industrial equipment including the robots and systems that power the assembly line. The Automotive Systems program allows students to work on high-voltage projects, internal combustion vehicles, and new technologies still being developed. While students are free to pursue careers at other companies, Volkswagen’s proud to maintain nearly a 90% retention in the first year and an impressive retention rate of over 60% retention in automotive manufacturing among graduates in their first 5 years.

Volkswagen’s Workforce Development Strategy

Volkswagen Chattanooga’s commitment to workforce development extends far beyond the Volkswagen Academy. Over the past 15 years, the company has built a broad portfolio of initiatives specifically designed to develop highly-skilled talent for technical careers that require specialized training. Together, these programs create a strong, local pipeline of future talent by providing students—from kindergarten through PhD—with opportunities to gain hands-on experience and build in-demand skills.

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Volkswagen’s local talent pipeline starts with the VW eLab program. To date, more than 55 eLabs have introduced emerging technologies and challenge-based learning into K-12 public schools across the Chattanooga region. Reaching more than 35,000 students annually, the program represents the largest Fab Lab network of its kind in the world and inspires young learners to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through real-world problem solving. This sparks an interest in engineering and mathematics at a young age, an interest they can continue to develop into high school.
At the high school level, the Mechatronics Academy at Volkswagen (MAV) has provided juniors and seniors with an accelerated pathway to an associate degree in applied science while offering hands-on, industry-focused experiences at the Chattanooga plant. Over the past nine years, the program has trained 140 students. In addition, Volkswagen’s summer STEM camps have engaged more than 850 students over the last decade, helping spark interest in technical careers at an early age.

Volkswagen’s apprenticeship programs, developed in partnership with Chattanooga State Community College, have also played a vital role in workforce development since 2010. The programs enroll approximately 35 students each year and to date have 365 alumni. Of those graduates, 160 have gone on to become full-time employees at Volkswagen Chattanooga, further strengthening the company’s skilled workforce.

At the university level, Volkswagen partners with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to support a PhD program that fully sponsors students working on research projects directly connected to operations at the Chattanooga assembly plant. This collaboration helps advance innovation while preparing the next generation of technical and engineering talent. PhD students have developed innovations related to

Together, these initiatives demonstrate Volkswagen Chattanooga’s long-term commitment to developing talent, strengthening the regional workforce, and creating opportunities for future generations. Volkswagen’s unique and comprehensive workforce development program have regularly been recognized as a model for other workforce development programs, even winning the Pledge to America’s Workers’ Presidential Award in 2020.