Volkswagen has big EV plans going forward, and now it has expanded its electric production to the United States. The German automaker just announced that production of the ID.4 electric SUV had begun in Chattanooga, TN.

The expansion makes the ID.4 VW’s first EV built and sold in the United States, though the automaker has had a massive manufacturing presence in Tennessee for many years. The company has also announced plans for another manufacturing facility in the United States and a battery plant in the future.

Volkswagen ID.4 production will kick off with an initial volume of around 7,000 units per month. The automaker has invested almost a billion dollars into the Chattanooga location, and it will grow in importance over time. In addition to growing its EV production capacity, VW’s move will bring thousands of jobs to the area. The automaker will grow its current 4,000-person workforce by another 1,000 by the end of the year.

The Volkswagen ID.4 is on sale here in the U.S., but the company has other electric models for sale in global markets, including the ID.3. That vehicle is smaller and likely less appealing to an American market, so it’s a safer bet that we’ll see the upcoming ID. Buzz van as the “next big thing.” At the same time, the company announced a revival of the Scout brand as an EV automaker, so there are exciting new models on the way.