Passat passes crash tests

Passat passes crash tests

The insurance industry's research group, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, has selected the Chattanooga-made Volkswagen Passat as its top safety pick in the car's category.

The group rates the safety of vehicles based on front, side, rear and rollover crash tests. The 2012 Passat received "good" ratings in all categories, qualifying it as a leader, the group said.

The group said the Passat performed particularly well for the roof strength test, during which it was able to withstand 6.32 times its curb weight, the highest ratio in the "midsize moderately priced sedan" category. The IIHS' standard for roof strength is a measurement of four times a car's weight.

Alcoa gets 160 jobs, more later

NASHVILLE - State officials say a company is expanding in Alcoa, Tenn., creating 160 full-time jobs.

Officials announced Thursday that TeamHealth plans to expand its corporate operations by leasing a new facility to be constructed at Base Pointe Business Park costing about $18 million. Officials said the expansion could later mean 550 jobs in management, accounting, medical coding, billing and clerical. The Knoxville-based company already employs 400 in Alcoa.

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