Three New Volkswagen eLabs Open in Bradley County Schools
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (Aug. 28, 2026) — Public Education Forward (PEF) and Bradley County Schools (BCS) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today at Bradley Central High School to announce three schools opening new Volkswagen eLabs in Bradley County. Following a rigorous selection process involving stakeholders from several community partners, the first VW eLabs to open in BCS are located at Charleston STEAM Academy, Ocoee Middle School, and Bradley Central High School.
VW eLabs are vibrant learning spaces, granting students access to digital fabrication technology including microcomputers, renewable energy kits, 3D printers, robotics, and laser cutters. The new labs opened with the start of the school year and join a network of VW eLabs at 61 schools in Hamilton County. Collectively, according to the official registry at the Fab Foundation from MIT, the Southeast Tennessee labs comprise the largest Fab Lab network in the world.
“At PEF, we believe partnership is powerful, and we see the power of it today as we open three new VW eLabs,” said Dr. Edna Varner, interim president of Public Education Forward. “Thanks to our partnerships with Volkswagen and Bradley County Schools, today we are not only opening three labs, we are also opening a door to curiosity, creativity, and futures our students have yet to imagine.”
“We want students across Bradley County to have opportunities to discover, create, and see themselves as innovators,” said Dr. Linda Cash, Director of Schools. “These VW eLabs are an exciting step as we continue expanding STEM experiences throughout our district.”
The innovative learning model fosters technical fluency and nurtures essential professional skills like perseverance and critical thinking. It also provides a platform where students engage in design challenges focused on sustainability and responsible design, tackling environmental remediation head-on while engaged in hands-on workforce development. The opportunity is made possible through a decade-long partnership between Volkswagen Group of America and PEF.
“These new eLabs will give students access to the tools, technology, and experiences that can spark curiosity and open doors to high-demand careers. We’re thrilled to support an initiative that expands educational opportunities, empowers young people, and helps prepare the workforce of tomorrow right here in Bradley County,” said Anne Cockwell, Vice President of HR Operations, Labor Relations, and Global Mobility at Volkswagen Group of America.
Since 2017, PEF has led the effort to develop and scale the labs by providing extensive professional development, research, and resources to teachers, principals, and schools. The thriving partnership has fueled the development and expansion of the VW eLab network to provide access to innovative workforce development for more than 50,000 students across the Tennessee Valley and southern Michigan.
“We are excited to expand opportunities for local students,” said Michael Stone, vice president of innovative learning at PEF. “Hamilton County Schools has built an impactful, sustainable model, and as we have worked with the team in Bradley County over the past nine months, we have been inspired to experience their passion and fresh perspective as we continue to grow the network!”
PEF is also expanding access in Hamilton County Schools with new VW eLabs opening at Bess T. Shepherd Elementary School, East Brainerd Elementary School, and the Mechatronics Academy at Volkswagen this year.
About Public Education Forward
PEF is moving public education forward. For 35 years, we have worked in partnership with public schools across the Tennessee Valley to provide training, research, and resources to teachers, principals, students, and their families. Our mission is to cultivate relationships and create opportunities that empower all educators and students for success in learning and in life. We envision a world where public education is the cornerstone of a thriving, equitable society, serving as the foundation of opportunity for all. For more information, visit pefchattanooga.org.
About Volkswagen Group of America
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA) is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. VWGoA is the exclusive importer and distributor of Volkswagen brand products and services in the U.S. VWGoA operates a state-of-the-art assembly facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which assembles Volkswagen brand vehicles including the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport. The company also conducts research and analysis on mobility and sustainability solutions at various research hubs in states including Tennessee, California, and Michigan.
VWGoA’s U.S. affiliates include Audi of America, LLC, Automobili Lamborghini America, LLC, and Bentley Motors, Inc., which distribute Audi, Lamborghini, and Bentley vehicles respectively. VW Credit, Inc. (doing business as “Volkswagen Financial Services” and “Audi Financial Services”) provides financial services and innovative mobility solutions. Other affiliates include Electrify America, the largest open Hyper-Fast charging network in the U.S., which is investing in Zero-Emission Vehicle infrastructure and access, and MOIA America, LLC, which tests and proves autonomous vehicle technology products and services. VWGoA and its Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, Financial Services, and Electrify America affiliates are headquartered in Reston, Virginia. The collective companies have nearly 10,000 employees in the United States and sell their vehicles through a network of approximately 1,000 independent dealers.
