Sajjad Hussain | AFP | Getty Images
President Donald Trump is expected to announce on Saturday that Volkswagen’s luxury subsidiary Audi plans to build an assembly plant in Georgia that will produce 200,000 SUVs a year, a government official told Reuters.
President Trump, who has pressured automakers to move production to the United States and raised tariffs on cars, steel, aluminum and parts, is scheduled to make the announcement in Georgia, near a factory where Audi plans to assemble its Q7, Q8 and Q9 SUVs. Audi also plans to announce plans to produce 25,000 vehicles in South Carolina, the people added.
Some of the vehicles currently manufactured in Europe will be exported, the official added.
Audi declined to comment. The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
The vehicles will be assembled at VW’s off-road brand Scout Motors’ $2 billion plant being built in Blythewood, South Carolina.
competitive racing in georgia
Georgia is in the midst of intense midterm elections for U.S. Senate and governor, and President Trump wants to make the case that auto tariffs are contributing to the U.S. economy. Critics argue that the tariffs have led to higher car prices.
President Trump’s decision to reduce incentives for electric vehicles has significantly reduced U.S. EV and battery production. Overall, U.S. auto and parts employment has declined since President Trump took office.
A gold Audi with manufacturer license plates was parked outside President Trump’s rally in Perry, Georgia.
Audi sales have declined for the second year in a row, falling 7% in the first half of 2026 as fierce competition in China and U.S. tariffs hit demand. Audi’s U.S. sales have fallen 16% this year.
Audi’s Neckarsulm plant in southwestern Germany is one of four Volkswagen plants in Germany that could close after 2030.
In July, toyota motor vehicle The company announced it will invest $3.6 billion to build a 2.5 million square foot (232,000 square meter) truck assembly line at its manufacturing campus in San Antonio, Texas, and move some truck production from Mexico to the United States. The Japanese automaker announced it will complete the expansion and create 2,000 jobs by 2030.
honda motor industry is considering building an assembly plant in the United States, but has warned it may not do so unless the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement is extended. Hyundai said last year that certainty about USMCA “would immediately enable more than $20 billion in new U.S. investment.”
This story is developing. Please check back for the latest information.
