Audi CEO Gernot Dollner faces criticism after appearing with President Trump at Georgia plant announcement
Audi chief Gernot Dollner was criticised for joining President Donald Trump at a rally in Georgia to unveil a planned $4 billion SUV plant, while union leaders warned the appearance breached the company’s code of conduct.
Audi chief executive Gernot Dollner appeared alongside President Donald Trump at a rally in Perry, Georgia, on Oct. 24 to announce a $4 billion investment for a new assembly plant that would produce 200,000 SUVs a year. The project, which still requires approval from Volkswagen’s supervisory board, is intended to reduce the impact of U.S. tariffs on imported vehicles.
"The way in which Gernot Dollner has presented himself and Audi in the US is deeply embarrassing, politically unacceptable and unworthy of the company," IG Metall president Christiane Benner said, adding that the appearance violated Audi’s corporate rules. Benner, who also serves as deputy chair of Volkswagen’s supervisory board, said the move was "right and necessary to better tap into the US market" but stressed that job security for German workers must be clearly defined.
German automotive analyst Ferdinand Dudenhoffer compared Dollner to "mini Elon Musk", referencing the Tesla chief’s own appearances with Trump. Audi’s code of conduct bars public engagements with political parties or politicians standing for election within three months of an election, a rule the rally allegedly breached.
Dollner defended the investment, saying it resulted from months of planning and negotiations and that accepting an invitation from the American president shows respect for the office and the host country. He declined to disclose whether the deal includes tariff relief.
The proposed plant comes as Volkswagen undergoes its largest restructuring, involving significant job cuts and potential plant closures in Germany. Lower Saxony Premier Olaf Lies, whose state is Volkswagen’s second-largest shareholder, said any growth in the United States must create jobs and value in Germany rather than displace them.
Analysts at Metzler noted that while the optics are mixed, producing vehicles in the United States could help protect Audi’s global business and preserve jobs at home.