On Sunday, Audi’s CEO defended the carmarker’s plans for a new $4 billion plant in Georgia, framing it as a growth-driven shift to increase sales and evade US tariffs.
The plant was set to be Audi’s first in the US by President Donald Trump during a rally in Georgia. Audi CEO Gernot Dollner stated during a media talk on Sunday, “We have significantly greater ambitions for Audi in America.”
“The United States is the second largest premium market in the world, and today we are not fully exploiting this potential. We are changing that.”
Dollner who joined Trump at the rally said the significant decision for a plant in the US is in the making with more than 70 locations evaluated for months.
He further noted that Audi is the last German luxury brand to establish production after Mercedes and BMW. The company further clarified that the Georgia plant is seeking to begin production of Audi’s Q7, Q8, and Q9 in the early 2030s. The plan retains the capacity to produce up to 200,000 vehicles annually, with nearly half earmarked for international export.
