VW puts the brakes on building TDI Passat in Chattanooga

The song Chattanooga Choo Choo may have been one of the most beloved songs of the big-band era, but that proverbial train has stopped at the Volkswagen Passat diesel. The German automaker, which makes the sedan at its factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has stopped production of the diesel-powered variant of the model, Automotive News say, citing a VW spokesman. Considering there's an effective stop-sale on VW diesels, it was only a matter of time.

The diesel version of the Passat is a casualty of the Volkswagen diesel-emissions scandal that broke in September. With an estimated 500,000 VWs on US roads that include diesel engines programmed to cheat emissions-testing systems, VW had already withdrawn certification procedures for the 2016 diesel-powered Passat with the US Environmental Protection Agency early last month. The company continues to work on a fix and a recall plan for its diesel-powered sedans.

The automaker unveiled the 2016 Passat in late September, with a base price of $23,260 as well as some more aggressive styling upgrades. Aside from the 2.0-liter turbo diesel mill, the model's powertrain options include a 3.6-liter V6 and a 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder engine. Gas-powered 2016 Passats are slated to hit US dealers by early next month. Through the first 10 months of the year, US Passat sales have fallen 12 percent from a year earlier to almost 72,000 units. Still, Passat sales for October alone jumped 25 percent from a year earlier to more than 8,100. Take a look at our First Drive impressions of the 2016 Passat here.