Audi to Build First US Manufacturing Plant in Georgia with $4 Billion Investment

German luxury automaker Audi AG plans to invest $4 billion to $4.2 billion to build its first United States manufacturing plant in middle Georgia, creating approximately 4,500 jobs, according to reports from dw.com, Fox Business, FOX 5 Atlanta, and WSB-TV. President Donald Trump announced the project on Saturday during a campaign rally in Perry, Georgia, crediting his tariff policies for driving the investment.

Audi Invests Billions in First U.S. Plant in Middle Georgia

The upcoming manufacturing facility will be located at the Middle Georgia Megasite in Peach County, a property marketed through the Mid-Georgia Gateway Joint Development Authority, FOX 5 Atlanta reported. While dw.com reported the project’s total investment at $4 billion, Fox Business cited a figure of $4.2 billion, noting that Trump described the deal during his Perry rally as a historic milestone for the American automotive sector. Audi is owned by Volkswagen. Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson called the project a historic milestone and a transformational opportunity for Middle Georgia. The project also marks a major expansion for the Ingolstadt, Germany-based automotive group.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Audi AG CEO Gernot Döllner joined forces to confirm the project, which aims to serve the North American automotive market. We are proud that Audi has selected Georgia as the home of their first U.S. manufacturing facility, delivering truly historic investment and jobs to middle Georgia, Kemp said in statements cited by FOX 5 Atlanta and WSB-TV. Döllner echoed those remarks at the rally, telling attendees, We have much greater ambitions for Audi in America, and Georgia will play a central role in making them a reality.

Tariffs and Midterm Political Pressures Shape the Deal

dw.com reported that Trump specifically credited his administration’s trade and tariff policies for pushing foreign automakers to shift production onto American soil. Last year, Audi’s tariffs cost the company €1.2-billion-euro ($1.4-billion). Trump announced the facility as Republicans campaign ahead of the midterms.

During the weekend rally, Trump invited Audi executives to join him on stage, including CEO Gernot Döllner and Audi North America President Vito Paladino. Fox Business reported that Trump also credited Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick with helping secure the agreement. Döllner thanked the president for his support, telling the crowd, It’s a fantastic opportunity for Audi, for the Audi team and for America. Döllner added that the company plans to bring its biggest and most premium SUVs and produce them in Macon, Georgia, noting that it is a long-term investment because they believe in the American market.

Production Timeline for Premium SUVs in Peach County

The new factory will focus on assembling large premium SUVs tailored for North American buyers. According to disclosures provided to Reuters and cited by dw.com, the facility is slated to produce the Audi Q7, Q8, and Q9 models. Fox Business noted the plant’s production target at 200,000 vehicles annually.

Local outlets provided a precise construction schedule for the middle Georgia property, which sits approximately 90 minutes south of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Site preparation and grading are scheduled to begin in 2027, with physical facility construction following in 2028. Commercial vehicle production at the Peach County site is scheduled to launch in the early 2031 timeframe.