Key facts
- US administration promised tariff relief to Audi to secure its $4 billion Georgia assembly plant.
- US officials indicated a tariff relief program for automakers with significant US investments.
- Audi sought a reduction in EU import tariffs from 15% to 7.5%; a 10% rate is expected.
- The investment is expected to create approximately 4,500 jobs.
- Production is slated to begin in the early 2030s.
The Trump administration has offered tariff relief to Volkswagen's Audi to secure a $4 billion assembly plant in Georgia, according to two sources briefed on the matter. US officials indicated a program offering tariff reductions for automakers making significant investments in the US. Audi has been seeking a reduction in import tariffs from the EU from 15% to 7.5%, with the Commerce Department expected to agree to around 10%. The plan aims to encourage more automakers to establish US production facilities. Audi CEO Gernot Doellner attended a campaign rally with President Trump, where the plant's planned annual production of 200,000 SUVs was announced. The investment is projected to create approximately 4,500 jobs, with construction beginning next year and production starting in the early 2030s.