Audi to Build Factory in Georgia, Trump Says

Mr. Trump portrayed the investment as a sign that his tariffs, which economists have said are inflationary, had inspired Audi’s decision. “Without tariffs, they would not have been coming in,” Mr. Trump said.

Audi will produce sport utility vehicles at the site, Gernot Döllner, the head of Audi, said after being called to the stage by Mr. Trump.

BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Audi’s main rivals, have long had factories in the United States — BMW in South Carolina and Mercedes in Alabama — where they mainly produce sport utility vehicles.

By promising to invest in a key battleground state, and giving Mr. Trump something to brag about, Volkswagen may be hoping to win concessions from the White House that would lower the tariff burden and help the company revive flagging sales in the United States.

“We can do something with you because you’re building your cars in the United States,” Mr. Trump said.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/24/business/audi-factory-georgia-trump.html