Audi Becomes Final German Luxury Automaker To Announce U.s. Expansion

On Saturday, October 24, 2026, Audi’s top executive Gernot Döllner joined President Donald J. Trump at his rally to announce the German luxury automaker’s plans to build a $4 billion assembly plant in Perry, Georgia. The plant is estimated to produce 200,000 Q7, Q8, and Q9 SUVs annually and create 4,500 jobs.

“We have much greater ambitions for Audi in America. The United States is one of the world’s most important premium markets, and we have not yet realized our full potential. We are determined to change that — with premium products, a stronger brand and a competitive local production base,” says Döllner. “This is about building a stronger Audi business in America — not simply about building a factory.”

Located about two hours south of Atlanta, the plant’s construction is currently scheduled to begin in 2027 with new vehicles expected to hit the streets in “the early 2030s.”

With this move, Audi becomes the third German luxury automaker to announce plans for United States expansion. Earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz announced plans to increase GLC SUV production by investing $4 billion at its already existing Alabama plant through 2030. BMW also announced in June of 2026 that it had completed a $1.7 billion investment in its South Carolina production plants in Spartanburg and Woodroof to launch stateside electric vehicle production.

Audi and Mercedes-Benz say that the new investments are due at least in part to the increased tariffs imposed on imported vehicles and parts.

The announcement from Audi comes during a tumultuous restructuring of its parent company. Early in September of 2026, Volkswagen announced that it would be cutting 50,000 jobs, simplifying its model portfolio, and considering alternative uses for four German plants from 2031-34 — one of which is currently used by Audi.