Audi CEO Döllner under fire after appearing with Trump to announce a US plant

Audi CEO Gernot Döllner faces criticism after appearing with US President Donald Trump at a campaign event, where it became clear that the Volkswagen Group's carmaker plans a plant in the United States. Deutsche Welle reported on 26 October.

Trump announced over the weekend the construction of a new Audi plant in Perry, in the US state of Georgia, for about $4 billion. Döllner appeared alongside him and thanked him for his support.

“Not the right place”

Lower Saxony's minister-president and VW supervisory board member Olaf Lies sharply criticized the appearance. “A campaign event cannot be the right place to announce such an investment,” said the SPD politician. In his view, Döllner became “part of a political staging”, which caused bewilderment.

Lies made clear that a final decision on the project is still pending: the relevant group bodies decide on an investment of this size, “and this decision has not yet been made.” He called it strategically right for Audi to open up the US market better, but only as long as jobs in Germany are secured rather than displaced. He demanded that all conditions of the investment be “fully put on the table of the supervisory board”.

Calls to resign

Left party chief Luigi Pantisano demanded Döllner's resignation, telling t-online: “I think it is clear: Audi CEO Gernot Döllner must take his hat.” Like VW group works council chief Daniela Cavallo and IG Metall, Pantisano criticized that the appearance violated Audi's own principles, which include not taking part in public party events before elections.

US midterm elections take place on 3 November, with parts of the Senate and the House of Representatives up for election. Republicans currently hold majorities in both chambers, but recent polls point to losses. More in business news.