Audi CEO criticised in Germany after joining Trump at Georgia rally on new US plant

Audi chief executive Gernot Döllner appeared alongside US President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Georgia on Saturday, ahead of the US midterm elections. The Guardian, DW, The Local and Reuters reported the appearance.

Plans were announced at the rally for Audi to build its first factory in the United States. The plant in Macon, Georgia, would produce about 200,000 vehicles a year, mainly SUVs. The Local attributes this figure to Trump. The project would create about 4,500 jobs, a figure The Local attributes to Audi.

Christiane Benner, head of the German union IG Metall, publicly criticised Döllner's appearance. She accused him of violating Audi's commitment to political neutrality before elections. The Guardian quoted her as calling it "extremely embarrassing, politically unacceptable and unworthy of the company, but above all of Audi's employees". Benner also said the investment still requires approval and that the final decision rests with Volkswagen's supervisory board. According to The Guardian, she is deputy chair of that board.

Audi is a unit of Volkswagen, which is pursuing major job cuts and cost reductions in Germany. Audi's plant in Neckarsulm, which employs about 15,000 people, is at risk under the restructuring. According to The Guardian, Volkswagen is pushing to cut as many as 100,000 jobs.

According to DW, Audi's code of conduct, published in April and signed by Döllner, bars public appearances with politicians standing for election during the three months before a vote.

According to The Guardian, Audi is the only premium carmaker without its own US factory. US import tariffs of 15% cost it an estimated €1.2bn last year. Construction is planned to start next year, with car production beginning in the 2030s.

What is disputed

The Guardian and DW put the investment at $4bn. The Local reports $4.2bn, announced by Trump. The Guardian says Döllner and Trump jointly announced the plant. DW and The Local say Trump announced it with Döllner alongside him.

What each side says

In a statement on Monday reported by DW, Audi said: "we were asked to present our plans publicly together with the President of the United States." It added that it acknowledged the circumstances "may have been perceived as a political signal. We take this very seriously." According to DW, the statement did not name Döllner or Trump.

The Guardian quoted Döllner at the rally as calling the plant "a long-term investment because we believe in the American market". According to DW, Trump credits the factory move to his tariffs. The Guardian reports that Trump has argued his tariffs on car imports are helping the US economy.

According to internal communications released to German media, as reported by The Guardian, Volkswagen works council head Daniela Cavallo criticised Trump's speech and Döllner's participation. Isabel Cademartori, transport spokesperson for the Social Democrats, called Döllner's actions a "disgrace", according to The Guardian. A German government spokesperson declined to comment, describing it as a business decision.

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include a personal response from Döllner to the criticism.

Analysis

The dispute links two separate questions: whether a corporate leader can appear at a partisan event without breaching company rules, and how a US expansion affects jobs in Germany. Volkswagen's supervisory board, where employee representatives hold seats, must still approve the investment, according to Benner. That gives labour leaders a formal role in the outcome. Possible scenarios include approval with safeguards for German sites, a delay, or changes to the plan. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe any company review of the alleged code-of-conduct breach. They also do not say when the board will decide.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.