Audi CEO Defends Trump Rally Appearance As Serving Company Interests

Audi chief executive Gernot Döllner has defended appearing alongside Donald Trump at a Republican campaign rally, saying the decision served the company’s interests after the event drew union condemnation and calls for his resignation.

In an internal message to employees cited by German news agency dpa, Döllner acknowledged that announcing a planned Georgia factory with the U.S. president had prompted questions and dismay.

“We made the decision to accept this invitation exclusively in the interests of the company,” he wrote.

Döllner joined Trump onstage in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, October 24, to outline plans for Audi’s first U.S. factory.

The appearance came ahead of the November 3 congressional elections.

Business Interests and Political Fallout

Döllner said he and production chief Gerd Walker had traveled to Georgia for negotiations over the proposed investment when they were invited to present the plans with Trump.

Confidentiality surrounding those discussions had prevented advance communication, he told employees.

“At the same time, we recognize that the setting of the announcement was perceived as a political signal,” Döllner wrote, adding that the company took that reaction seriously.

Audi said the appearance concerned a specific investment opportunity and did not represent a partisan position.

The company argued that a project spanning decades required it to consider both its commercial interests and the available window for advancing negotiations.

The controversy also brought scrutiny of internal rules excluding public appearances with parties or politicians contesting elections during the three months before a vote.

Audi said its participation did not call those principles into question.

Union Leaders Condemn Appearance

Daniela Cavallo, head of Volkswagen’s group works council, accused Döllner of providing “active campaign support” after a Trump speech she condemned for racism, sexism, xenophobia, transphobia and contempt for democracy, according to dpa.

IG Metall leader Christiane Benner also criticized how Döllner had represented Audi at the event.

The backlash comes as Audi prepares to eliminate up to 7,500 positions in Germany by the end of 2029, principally in administration and development.

Its employment agreement rules out compulsory redundancies through the end of 2033.

Benner said establishing U.S. production was necessary but demanded binding commitments for employees across Audi’s operations, particularly in Germany.

Factory Still Awaits Approval

Audi puts the proposed investment near Macon at about $4 billion. Trump announced a higher figure of $4.2 billion and presented the project as a result of his tariff policy.

The factory would employ roughly 4,500 people and produce up to 200,000 large premium SUVs annually. Volkswagen’s supervisory board must still approve the investment.

Georgia authorities expect site preparation to begin in 2027, followed by factory construction in 2028 and production in 2031.

Döllner said local manufacturing was essential to improving Audi’s position in the world’s second-largest premium car market, where its business is currently unprofitable.

U.S. tariffs cost Audi about €1.2 billion in 2025, according to Reuters.

Local production would reduce trade and currency exposure while bringing Audi closer to competitors already manufacturing in the country.

Döllner argued that strengthening the U.S. business would support Audi’s global competitiveness and long-term future. Audi said Germany and Europe would remain its industrial backbone.