German automaker Audi is planning to construct its first manufacturing facility in the United States, targeting an annual capacity of up to 200,000 vehicles and creating approximately 4,500 direct jobs. US President Donald Trump announced the investment during an election campaign rally in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
Appearing alongside Audi chief executive Gernot Döllner, Trump highlighted his administration's trade policies, asserting that import tariffs were driving foreign companies to relocate production to American soil. The announcement comes in the final stretch before the US midterm elections on November 3.
The automotive plant is slated to be built at the Middle Georgia Megasite in Peach County, located near the city of Macon. Authorities in Georgia stated that the state was selected due to its established network of suppliers, robust transport infrastructure, skilled labor pool, and room for potential future expansion. In addition to the direct workforce, the venture is expected to generate indirect employment across regional suppliers, logistics firms, and service providers.
Preparatory construction work at the Peach County location is scheduled to commence in 2027, with vehicle production ramping up in the early 2030s. Officials from the state government of Georgia have identified 2031 as the target date for full-scale assembly operations.
The facility will focus primarily on building large, high-end sport utility vehicles tailored to North American consumer preferences. Citing an unnamed US government official, Reuters reported that Audi intends to produce its Q7, Q8, and Q9 SUV models at the new site, though Audi publicly described the vehicle line merely as particularly large and high-priced luxury SUVs.
The move represents a notable shift in strategy for Audi, which has historically supplied its US inventory through exports from manufacturing plants in Europe and Mexico. Establishing local manufacturing is intended to shield the carmaker from currency exchange fluctuations and global shipping disruptions while strengthening its market standing against competitors already producing within the US.
Trump's trade platform has included additional duties on imported vehicles and automotive parts to compel overseas manufacturers to build in the US market. The tariff burden cost Audi approximately 1.2 billion euros over the past year. However, Audi emphasized that while tariffs influenced the economics, the site selection was also driven by proximity to consumers, regional supply chains, long-term market growth, and existing infrastructure.
The shift towards North American investment brings scrutiny to the future geographical allocation of capital across the Volkswagen Group, Audi's parent company. Audi maintained that its production footprint in Germany and Europe will remain its industrial core, assuring that existing development and engineering capabilities will be complemented rather than replaced by the American facility.
According to reports from German public broadcaster Tagesschau, labor union IG Metall expressed general support for Audi expanding its presence in the United States, while calling for firm, long-term employment guarantees for workers at German assembly plants. The union noted that the final plant decision remains subject to official authorization by the relevant Volkswagen Group committees.
Georgia has established itself as an automotive hub in the American South. South Korean manufacturer Kia has operated a manufacturing facility in West Point since 2009, while Hyundai has built a multi-billion-dollar electric vehicle assembly complex near Savannah. The region's automotive logistics are further supported by deepwater port facilities in Savannah and Brunswick for international cargo transport.
