Audi chief executive Gernot Döllner is facing mounting pressure after sharing a stage with U.S. President Donald Trump at a Republican campaign event in Georgia, a move that has triggered an emergency meeting of the Volkswagen subsidiary's supervisory board in Ingolstadt. Company sources say Döllner's appearance was the only matter discussed, though no formal agenda was set for the Friday session.
At Saturday's event, Döllner unveiled plans for a $4.2 billion investment in a new U.S. plant expected to employ around 4,500 workers, and publicly thanked Trump for his support. The announcement, arriving just before the U.S. midterm elections, has drawn accusations that the executive let himself be used for political purposes, breaching internal rules against campaign-related appearances so close to a vote.
The fallout has reached showrooms. Audi dealers report customers canceling orders and walking away from purchase agreements, with concerns spreading beyond Germany to Switzerland, according to the outlet Blick. Broadcaster Südwestrundfunk cited retail experts warning of serious emotional damage to the brand, even as some defend the U.S. investment as a necessary response to high costs at home.
The Georgia plant is part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on Audi's existing Mexican production and cut exposure to tariffs. Reports suggest duties on European imports could drop from 15 to 10 percent, while tariffs on Mexican-built vehicles may fall from 25 percent. Volkswagen CFO Arno Antlitz told the F.A.Z. that formal committee decisions are still pending, noting the group paid roughly €2.2 billion in tariffs over the first three quarters of the year, a third of it tied to Audi.
The controversy coincides with weak financial results. Audi's after-tax profit plunged from €718 million to €95 million in the latest quarter, with nine-month profit down from €2.06 billion to €1.2 billion amid declining sales in China and the U.S. Döllner described the downturn as a mandate to "consistently renew Audi."
Labor leaders have voiced sharp criticism. Volkswagen group works council chief Daniela Cavallo said anyone who watched Trump's speech and then saw Döllner onstage should feel deep shame, though she stopped short of demanding his resignation. Audi works council chairman Jörg Schlagbauer linked his support for the Georgia plant to guarantees for domestic workers, while IG Metall leader Christiane Benner called the appearance politically unacceptable.
Döllner has defended the trip, saying in an internal letter that he traveled to Georgia with production chief Gerd Walker purely to advance plant negotiations, acknowledging the appearance's political optics while insisting it served the company's interests. No supervisory board member has called for his removal. The group's full board may address the issue in a special session as soon as next week, ahead of its scheduled meeting next month.
Source: BigGo Finance
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