The VW logo is seen on the front of one of dozens of new Passats made at the Chattanooga Volkswagen assembly plant parked outside the plant.

Volkswagen officials in Chattanooga say they're cutting about 500 jobs from the plant in the wake of slower growth in the Passat that is made in the factory.

Frank Fischer, who heads VW's Chattanooga operations, said the jobs will be cut from the Aerotek contract workforce the automaker has used.

After the cuts, the plant will have about 2,700 workers.

Fischer said the company still expects to sell more Passats in 2013 than last year, but the rate of growth has slowed.

He said the entire midsize sedan segment of the market has braked so far this year, while sales of trucks and sport utility sedans have risen.

Fischer said that the plant has about 650 contract workers. He said the plant workers will lose their jobs at the end of May but be paid until the end of June.

See full story in Friday's Times Free Press.