Audi will build its first US production site in Georgia, investing around $4 billion and creating approximately 4,500 jobs. The German automaker confirmed the plan in its own news release after President Donald Trump announced it at a campaign rally in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday. The plant will be built at the Middle Georgia Megasite in Peach County, near Macon, with an annual production capacity of up to 200,000 vehicles.

What it will build, and when

The plant will make premium SUVs tailored to North American customers, including the Q7, Q8 and the recently announced Q9, Audi said. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with production planned to start in the early 2030s; the state's timeline is more specific, with site grading in 2027, construction in 2028 and full production in 2031. Georgia's Quick Start programme will build a training centre and start classes before the plant is finished. Trump put the investment figure at $4.2 billion and credited his tariffs, while Audi's release and the governor's office both say about $4 billion.

Why it matters

Audi is the only German auto brand without a US factory; rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and corporate cousin Volkswagen, all produce cars in the South. Audi chief executive Gernot Dollner said the plant would give Audi greater flexibility to navigate trade barriers, after tariffs clipped about 1.2 billion euros from its profits last year, but added: "The tariff situation was not the only issue." The announcement came 10 days before the 3 November midterms, in a battleground state where a tight Senate race is under way.