Audi CEO faces backlash after joining Trump at midterm campaign rally
Audi CEO Gernot Doellner drew criticism for appearing with U.S. President Donald Trump at a Georgia campaign rally, where they announced plans for a $4 billion plant that would produce 200,000 SUVs annually. The investment has not been approved by Volkswagen’s supervisory board.
1. Backlash over rally appearance
Doellner appeared alongside Trump at a rally in Perry, Georgia, as they announced plans for Audi’s first U.S. plant. IG Metall head Christiane Benner said the appearance violated Audi’s political-neutrality rules, which prohibit public engagements with candidates in the three months before an election.
2. Investment still pending
The proposed $4 billion investment must be considered by Volkswagen’s supervisory board, which includes German labor representatives. Audi has considered a U.S. plant partly to avoid import tariffs that cost the company around €1.2 billion last year.
3. Pressure on Volkswagen
The plan comes as Volkswagen seeks to cut 100,000 jobs and reduce excess production while facing losses in China and steep tariffs. Metzler analysts said the optics were not great given Audi’s global capacity reductions, but argued that producing in the United States was the right decision.
