Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
Audi board to discuss US factory and Döllner’s Trump appearance
Audi’s supervisory board is meeting Friday to discuss a planned factory in the United States and CEO Gernot Döllner’s appearance with President Donald Trump.
Trump announced the factory at a campaign event, where Döllner thanked him for his support.
Döllner has faced sharp criticism in Germany for appearing at the event, which critics say breached Audi’s internal guidelines; he has defended his actions as being in the company’s interest.
The factory is planned for Perry, Georgia, and would be Audi’s first plant in the United States.
Audi plans to invest $4 billion, create 4,500 jobs and eventually build 200,000 SUVs a year there.
Volkswagen’s board still needs to approve the plans, with construction targeted to begin in 2027 and production in the early 2030s.
Audi’s supervisory board is due to meet on Friday to discuss the planned US factory and how it was announced.
The meeting follows criticism of chief executive Gernot Döllner after he appeared with US President Donald Trump.
Trump announced the factory at a campaign event on Saturday, and Döllner publicly thanked him for his support.
Döllner has defended his appearance as being in the company’s interest.
The planned factory in Perry, Georgia, is intended to produce 200,000 SUVs a year.
- Who
- Audi’s supervisory board is meeting to discuss the plan and announcement involving chief executive Gernot Döllner.
- What
- The board will discuss the planned US factory and the way it was announced.
- When
- Friday, a few days after Trump’s Saturday campaign appearance.
- Where
- The planned factory is in Perry, Georgia, in the United States.
- Why
- Döllner’s appearance with Trump and his public thanks to the president prompted criticism in Germany.
Critics of Döllner's appearance
Gernot Döllner
Conduct at the campaign event
Critics of Döllner's appearance
Critics said Döllner violated internal guidelines on campaign appearances.
Gernot Döllner
Döllner appeared on stage after Trump announced the factory and thanked the president for his support.
Justification
Critics of Döllner's appearance
Critics condemned his appearance, and some called for him to resign.
Gernot Döllner
Döllner defended the appearance as being in the company’s interest.
Trump announced the planned Audi factory at a campaign event, and Döllner appeared on stage and thanked him.
Döllner faced criticism in Germany, including over alleged breaches of internal guidelines on campaign appearances.
Audi’s supervisory board is due to meet to discuss the factory plan and the way it was announced.
- Planned location
- Perry, Georgia, United States
- Planned annual output
- 200,000 SUVs
- Planned investment
- $4 billion, or about €3.6 billion
- Planned jobs
- 4,500
- Construction target
- 2027
- Production target
- Early 2030s