Audi CEO Criticized for Joining Donald Trump at Georgia Campaign Rally
The head of Germany's IG Metall union condemned Audi chief Gernot Doellner for violating corporate neutrality rules by appearing at a US political event.
Audi Chief Executive Officer Gernot Doellner faced sharp criticism on Monday after appearing alongside US President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Perry, Georgia. The luxury carmaker's boss joined the political event to announce plans for a $4 billion manufacturing facility, which would mark the brand's first production plant in the United States and produce an estimated 200,000 SUVs annually.
The decision to appear at the rally immediately drew backlash from labor leaders in Germany. Christiane Benner, president of the powerful IG Metall union and deputy chair of Volkswagen's supervisory board, condemned the appearance as a blatant violation of corporate policy. She stated that Doellner had committed a flagrant breach of company rules requiring political neutrality during election periods.
According to Audi's internal code of conduct, public engagements with political parties, candidates, or politicians running for office are strictly forbidden in the three months leading up to an election. Benner described the appearance as extremely embarrassing, politically unacceptable, and unworthy of the company, further criticizing the CEO for allowing himself to become part of a political propaganda show.
The proposed manufacturing plant in Georgia, which aims to create roughly 4,500 jobs, still requires formal approval from the supervisory board of parent company Volkswagen, where labor representatives hold significant influence. While business analysts note that localizing production in the United States could help Audi avoid import tariffs that cost the company around €1.2 billion last year, labor officials have expressed serious reservations.
Daniela Cavallo, another prominent labor representative on the Volkswagen board, acknowledged that localizing production might make sense from a pure business perspective. However, she echoed concerns about Doellner's appearance alongside Trump, warning that the move complicates an already tense corporate environment as Volkswagen navigates sweeping restructuring and cost-cutting measures in Germany.
Despite the heavy criticism from union leadership, a person familiar with the situation indicated that Audi's management board had cleared an exception to the company's code of conduct prior to the event. Under corporate guidelines, the board maintains the authority to permit deviations from the rules in non-criminal matters. Top stakeholders discussed the controversy during a meeting last week, highlighting ongoing friction within the supervisory committee.
The timing of the announcement has also raised anxiety among workers in Germany, where jobs are already at risk due to ongoing corporate restructuring. Facilities such as Audi's plant in Neckarsulm, which employs approximately 15,000 people, face particular uncertainty as production shifts are evaluated. Unlike Audi, German competitors BMW and Mercedes-Benz have long operated major manufacturing facilities in South Carolina and Alabama, respectively.