Audi to Build $4.2 Billion SUV Plant in Georgia
Audi will invest up to $4.2 billion to build its first U.S. factory in Georgia, producing 200,000 premium SUVs annually to mitigate import tariffs.
President Donald Trump announced on October 25, 2026, that Audi will build its first United States manufacturing facility at the Middle Georgia Megasite in Peach County, Georgia. The investment, estimated between $4 billion and $4.2 billion, is expected to create 4,500 jobs and produce 200,000 premium SUVs annually, including the Q7, Q8, and Q9 models. While Trump claimed the move was a direct result of his administration's import tariffs, Audi leadership described the project as a long-term commercial strategy to establish North America as a third major production pillar alongside Europe and China.
Project timelines indicate site grading will begin in 2027, with construction starting in 2028 and full production slated for 2031. The initiative was coordinated by the Mid-Georgia Gateway Joint Development Authority, a partnership between Peach, Houston, and Macon-Bibb counties. Additionally, parent company Volkswagen Group plans to expand its Scout Motors plant in Blythewood, South Carolina, to add capacity for 25,000 vehicles.
The announcement comes as Volkswagen Group undergoes a massive restructuring to cut up to 100,000 jobs globally and close several German plants due to Chinese competition and tariff costs. The appearance of Audi CEO Gernot Döllner at Trump's campaign rally in Perry, Georgia, drew criticism from Germany's IG Metall union, which alleged the event violated corporate codes of conduct regarding political engagements before an election. The investment remains subject to final approval by the Volkswagen supervisory board.
