Foreign accents to Chattanooga area business

photo Stoves move through an assembly line in 2012 at the GE Roper plant in LaFayette, Ga.

Metropolitan Chattanooga has the highest share of employees who work at foreign-owned businesses.

Even before recent expansions by VW, Beaulieu, Electrolux and Wacker, an estimated 12,670 jobs - or one of every 16 employees - were at foreign-owned businesses in the Chattanooga area, according to the Brookings Institution.

• In 2014, Electrolux of Sweden buys General Electric appliance division, including GE Roper in Lafayette, Ga.

• In 2014, Volkswagen of Germany announces plans to add 2,000 employees and build mid-sized SUV at Chattanooga assembly plant, which VW built in 2008.

• Beaulieu International Group, of Belgium announces plans to establish its U.S. headquarters in Cartersville, Ga., and create 350 jobs

• In 2012, Wacker Chemie of Germany expands plans for $2 billion polysilicon plant in Charleston, Tenn.

• In 2009, Gestamp of Spain builds $280 million automotive stamping plant in Chattanooga.

• In 2009, Sanofi-Aventis of France buys Chattem Inc. in Chattanooga

• In 2005, T-Mobile of Germany builds $16 million call center with nearly 800 employees in Chattanooga

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