Trump touts $4 billion Audi plant in Georgia as he defends tariffs

Investing.com -- U.S. President Donald Trump defended his tariff policies during a campaign rally in Georgia on Saturday, announcing that Volkswagen (ETR) plans to build a new Audi manufacturing plant in the state.

Trump said the investment demonstrated how tariffs were encouraging foreign manufacturers to expand production in the United States.

The proposed facility, valued at approximately $4 billion by Audi, is expected to create 4,500 jobs and produce up to 200,000 vehicles annually.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with production targeted for the early 2030s.

Audi plans to manufacture its larger premium sport utility vehicles at the Macon, Georgia, facility, including the Q7, Q8 and Q9 models.

Audi Chief Executive Gernot Döllner, who joined Trump at the rally, described the project as a long-term commitment to the U.S. automotive market.

Volkswagen also plans to expand its Scout Motors facility under construction in South Carolina, adding capacity for another 25,000 vehicles annually.

Trump credited his administration’s trade policies for securing the investment, arguing that the project would not have materialised without tariffs.

The announcement comes as the president faces mounting political pressure over inflation and household living costs ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

Higher energy prices linked to the Iran war have added to consumer concerns, complicating the administration’s efforts to highlight manufacturing investments.

Trump’s Georgia appearance was his second campaign visit to the state in two weeks as Republicans attempt to unseat Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff.

Republican challenger Mike Collins trails Ossoff by more than eight percentage points in the RealClearPolitics polling average.

The Cook Political Report currently rates the Senate contest as likely Democratic, underscoring the challenges facing Republicans despite the administration’s latest manufacturing investment announcement.