PERRY: Volkswagen’s supervisory board must approve Audi’s planned $4 billion Georgia factory before the German carmaker can proceed with the investment.
President Donald Trump announced the project at a campaign rally in Perry on Saturday. Audi Chief Executive Gernot Doellner joined him on stage.
Audi expects the plant to produce 200,000 SUVs annually and create about 4,500 jobs. Doellner defended his appearance with Trump on Sunday.
He said Audi had spent months planning and negotiating the investment. “If the American president invites you, you accept the invitation,” Doellner said. Audi currently imports all vehicles for the US market from Europe or Mexico.
The company said tariffs on cars, parts, steel and aluminium cost it about €1.2 billion ($1.4 billion) last year. German labour representatives questioned the timing of Doellner’s appearance during the election campaign.
IG Metall head Christiane Benner supported strengthening Volkswagen’s US position but called for clear protections for workers at German sites.
Lower Saxony Premier Olaf Lies made a similar argument. He said US growth should secure German jobs and value creation rather than displace them.
Read: Audi Georgia Factory Plan Targets 200,000 SUVs a Year
Doellner declined to disclose whether the investment agreement includes tariff relief. Construction is scheduled to begin next year. Audi expects production to start in the early 2030s.
A US official told Reuters that the plant is expected to assemble Audi Q7, Q8 and Q9 SUVs Audi’s planned $4 billion Georgia factory still needs approval from Volkswagen’s supervisory board and could produce 200,000 SUVs a year while creating about 4,500 jobs.
