News, Report: VW offices leaving Mich. for Va. (Detroit, Grand Rapids: jobs, college)

[John1960]

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Volkswagen AG is moving its North American headquarters from Michigan to northern Virginia in hopes of attracting a skilled young work force and to get closer to its customers, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

The office of Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine said he would make an economic development announcement Thursday morning near Dulles International Airport. A spokesman declined to say if it related to VW.

The German company, which has its U.S. headquarters in the Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills, will bring 400 jobs and invest about $100 million as it shifts operations to Herndon, Va., the newspaper reported. It said the move will eliminate 400 positions, leaving 600 jobs in suburban Detroit.

Tennessean.com - Nashville news from The Tennessean, MUSIC CITY U.S.A (broken link)

[Frankawitz]

Yeah that's to bad, But it shows that the Governor was again a sleep at the wheel. to little to late Jenny they should call her. Why people of this State voted that dumbass back in office is beyond me. I saw a good bumper sticker the other day it said Fire Grandholm and Hire DeVos. I wonder how we would be doing if the election would have gone the other way.

[southernlady5464]

Why people of this State voted that dumbass back in office is beyond me.

Many TRIED to vote her out of office...just not enough. Liz

[TrippingJay]

The Washington Post reported that VW was looking at moving to the East Coast in early 2006. The reason? Because VW wants to be where it's customers are. I don't think there was much that Granholm or DeVos could have done to make VW stay.

If VW really wants to improve its sales, it needs to stop building mediocre cars. The Jetta and Passat have numerous electrical problems, and the Toureg is just a bad vehicle.

[magellan]

Notice it also says they want to locate where there is an ample "skilled young work force"? We have a lot of college students in Michigan, but they all pack up and leave for greener pastures shortly after graduation. Trying to figure out how Devos could stop that, considering his family's company, Amway, is the laughing stock of most young people.

[jimdhen]

I wonder what their employees think about it. I love to visit the DC-area but wouldn't want to live there. Too expensive and too congested. And about that statement about looking for that young workforce? Pretty insensitive if not a revealing statement about not wanting to hire older workers.

[Frankawitz]

I think they just wanted out of a State that has Very little to offer, Unions High Taxes and a work force set in its ways doesn't help a company to do business here, and as for them looking to move out back in 2006 it still says the Governor was even in a deeper sleep, Maybe she should think about that Tax increase she's pushing on the Manufacturing companies and Construction companies. Also as for Amyway well I guess they must be doing something right since Grand Rapids seems to be doing better then South East Michigan. People are working on that side of the State.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by jimdhen

I wonder what their employees think about it. I love to visit the DC-area but wouldn't want to live there. Too expensive and too congested. And about that statement about looking for that young workforce? Pretty insensitive if not a revealing statement about not wanting to hire older workers.

No kidding jimdhen. I just visited a family member in D.C. last week and he lives in a 1000 sf brownstone in the Capital Hill area, and similar ones on his block are selling for $525 - $600,000. And the Capital Hill area is still pretty rough (but slowly gentrifying). I don't know how young people can afford to live in the D.C./Virginia area, although it does seem to be growing at a good clip.

[zakian]

EVERYONE is or wants to leave Michigan. Me too.

[The_Anonymous_American]

VW is going down faster than Michigan. It's a move of desperation, and the only publicity the company has gotten around here in recent years. What a joke to say they can't get young skilled workers. First of all, VW is laying off people, not hiring. Secondly, they have a hard time hiring because around here, VW is THE LAST CHOICE. What young person would turn down GM to work at VW?