President Donald Trump announced on Saturday, October 24, 2026, that Audi will build a new automobile manufacturing plant in Georgia. The announcement was made during a campaign rally in Perry, Georgia, as the president campaigned for Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
The factory represents the first Audi plant in Georgia and will be located in Macon. Audi, a German luxury brand owned by Volkswagen AG, plans to invest $4.2 billion in the facility. According to the company, the plant is designed to produce 200,000 cars annually, specifically focusing on the brand’s largest and most premium SUVs.
Construction on the Macon site is scheduled to begin in 2027, with vehicle production expected to start in the early 2030s. Audi reported that the project will create approximately 4,500 jobs. Gernot Döllner, chairman of the board of management at Audi, joined the president on stage to describe the move as a long-term investment in the American market.
The concrete day-to-day change for residents will not be immediate, as construction is not slated to begin for another year, and the full impact on local payrolls and production will not be realized until the early 2030s. At that point, the regional labor market will see the addition of thousands of manufacturing roles. The announcement also involves Volkswagen AG's broader U.S. strategy, which includes plans to expand an existing facility in South Carolina. Bloomberg reported that the automaker is hopeful the commitment will lead to relief from tariffs that have affected company profits.
The next steps for the project include the formal commencement of construction in 2027. Politically, the announcement serves as a late-stage development before the November 3 midterms, where candidates like Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) are contesting seats such as the one held by Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA). While the plant's production timeline extends into the next decade, the immediate political focus remains on the upcoming election day. Details regarding specific state-level tax incentives or the exact start date for hiring have not been reported.