Gernot Doellner, the CEO of Audi, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, has come under intense scrutiny in Germany following his appearance alongside U.S. President Donald Trump at a rally announcing the construction of a $4 billion factory in Georgia. Christiane Benner, head of Germany’s most influential union, criticized Doellner for violating Audi’s internal regulations, as reported by Reuters.
The factory plan, which still requires approval from Volkswagen’s supervisory board, comes after extensive discussions about establishing a local facility to circumvent burdensome American tariffs that have significantly impacted the company.
During the rally held in Perry, near Macon, Georgia, on Saturday, Doellner highlighted the benefits of the new assembly plant, which is expected to produce 200,000 SUVs annually. “This is a fantastic opportunity for the Audi team and for America,” he stated. “We plan to bring the largest premium SUVs and produce them here in Georgia. This is a long-term investment because we trust the American market,” Doellner added.
Benner condemned Doellner’s actions, calling the manner in which he represented himself and Audi in the U.S. “extremely embarrassing, politically unacceptable, and unworthy of the company.” She also pointed out that his appearance breached Audi’s corporate rules.
Benner, who sits on Volkswagen’s supervisory board, referred to the company’s code of conduct, which prohibits any public engagements with political parties or election candidates, as well as sponsorship of such events, within three months of an election.
The planned investment in the U.S. coincides with the largest corporate restructuring in Volkswagen’s history, which includes significant job cuts and potential factory closures within the domestic market.
At the weekend rally, Trump announced that Audi is set to “begin construction next month on a massive factory” in Macon, Georgia. Audi confirmed in a statement that construction is expected to commence next year, with production slated to start in the early 2030s.
