Audi to invest $4 billion in new Georgia plant producing SUVs
Audi announced a $4 billion investment to build a vehicle plant in Georgia that will create about 4,500 jobs and begin production in the early 2030s.
Audi plans to spend roughly four billion U.S. dollars on its first wholly owned manufacturing facility in the United States, locating the plant at the Middle Georgia Megasite in Peach County near Macon. The project, which aims for an annual capacity of up to 200,000 vehicles, is expected to create about 4,500 direct jobs, with additional employment at suppliers and logistics firms.
The announcement was made on 24 October 2026 at a campaign rally for President Donald Trump in Perry, Georgia, where the president highlighted his trade policy as a factor encouraging companies to relocate production to the United States.
"Our trade policy is prompting companies to bring jobs back home," Trump said at the event.
Audi CEO Gernot Döllner said the investment reflects the brand’s long-term ambition to expand its presence in the American premium-car market, which he described as one of the world’s most important.
"The United States is a key market for us, and we have not yet fully tapped its potential," Döllner said.
The plant will primarily assemble large, high-end sport-utility vehicles, with models such as the Q7, Q8 and Q9 slated for production. Preparatory work is scheduled to start in 2027, with series production targeted for the early 2030s; Georgia officials have cited 2031 as the goal for full-scale output.
Audi expects local manufacturing to lower dependence on overseas supply chains and reduce exposure to exchange-rate fluctuations, while bringing vehicles closer to U.S. customers. The company noted that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on imported cars and parts added about €1.2 billion to its costs last year, making domestic production more financially attractive, though it also cited market access, existing infrastructure and a regional supplier base as decisive factors.
The investment adds to Georgia’s automotive sector, which already hosts plants for Kia and Hyundai, and leverages the state’s ports for vehicle and component shipments. Industry observers note that while the new plant may shift some future investment toward North America, Audi stresses that its German and European facilities will remain central to its operations.