Gernot Döllner, the head of the luxury car manufacturer Audi, is facing sharp criticism in Germany following his appearance at a campaign rally with Donald Trump. The event, which took place just days before the US midterm elections, featured Döllner on stage to announce a $4bn investment in Georgia, a key battleground state. The decision to appear alongside the former president has sparked outrage among labor representatives and political figures alike.
Daniela Cavallo, the head of the works council at Audi’s parent company, Volkswagen, issued a scathing rebuke of the appearance. According to internal communications released to German media, she stated that anyone witnessing Trump’s speech—which she described as being filled with “racism, sexism, transphobia [and] contempt for democracy”—and then seeing Döllner participate in the event should “sink into the ground with shame.”
Political backlash followed, with Isabel Cademartori, transport spokesperson for the Social Democrats, labeling the executive's actions a “disgrace.” She noted the sensitivity of the situation given the history of the Volkswagen Group, a reference to its origins as a state-sponsored company during the Nazi era. Meanwhile, the German government declined to offer an official comment, describing the situation as a private business decision regarding corporate investment and executive appearances.
During the rally, Döllner and Trump announced to the crowd on Saturday that Audi would spend $4bn to build its first factory in the US and create 4,500 jobs. Döllner defended the project as a “long-term investment because we believe in the American market,” with construction slated for next year and production beginning in the 2030s. However, the announcement comes at a volatile time for Volkswagen, which is currently attempting to cut tens of thousands of jobs and potentially close several German plants due to competition from Chinese manufacturers, US tariffs, and the expensive transition to electric vehicles.
Christiane Benner, head of the powerful trade union IG Metall, called the appearance “extremely embarrassing, politically unacceptable and unworthy of the company, but above all of Audi’s employees.” She accused Döllner of being in “flagrant breach” of the company’s code of conduct, “which expressly requires political neutrality in the run-up to elections.” As deputy chair of the board, Benner warned that the planned Georgia facility would require formal approval from the VW supervisory board. Audi’s facility in Neckarsulm, which employs 15,000 people, is among four VW plants currently threatened with closure.
Volkswagen is currently locked in a battle between management and labour over a push to cut as many as 100,000 jobs and close factories. It has blamed the downsizing on intense competition from Chinese carmakers, as well as US tariffs and the expensive transition to electric vehicles.
The 3 November election in Georgia could be decisive in the Democrats’ battle to regain a majority in the Senate. The incumbent senator, Jon Ossoff, is fighting a tough re-election battle against Republican challenger Mike Collins, in a state Trump won in 2024.
