Audi CEO Faces Criticism for US Investment Rally Appearance
Source reports published 26 Oct 2026, 10:00 am – 27 Oct 2026, 1:16 am AEST
Gernot Döllner, Audi’s CEO, joined Donald Trump at a rally in Georgia to announce a $4 billion investment in a new US factory, creating 4,500 jobs. The move has drawn criticism from German labor unions and politicians due to concerns about political neutrality and potential job losses.
What happened
- Gernot Döllner, the CEO of Audi, participated in a campaign rally alongside Donald Trump in Perry, Georgia, to announce a $4 billion investment in the United States.
- The investment will establish Audi’s first US factory near Macon, Georgia, with plans to produce up to 200,000 premium SUVs annually, starting in the early 2030s.
- Trump credited tariffs imposed on European vehicles for prompting the investment.
- However, the announcement has been met with strong criticism from Germany.
- Daniela Cavallo, head of Volkswagen’s works council, condemned Döllner’s participation as ‘shameful’ and a sign of management being ‘turned into a puppet’.
- Christiane Benner, president of the German trade union IG Metall, described Döllner’s appearance as ‘highly embarrassing’ and a breach of the company’s code of conduct regarding political neutrality.
- Benner emphasized the need for Audi’s supervisory board to approve the investment and address concerns about job security at Audi’s German plants.
- Isabel Cademartori, a spokesperson for Germany’s Social Democrats, called the action a ‘disgrace'.
- The Macon plant’s construction is expected to begin next year.
Original reporting
- Guardian: Audi boss under fire in Germany for Trump rally appearance
2026-10-26T00:00:00+00:00 - Deutsche Welle: What Germany thinks of Audi's $4 billion deal with Trump
2026-10-26T15:16:19.950000+00:00 - GB News: Audi boss slammed for appearing alongside Donald Trump after confirming $4bn US investment
2026-10-26T12:18:21+00:00