Audi Plans Its First US Plant in Georgia With $4 Billion
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Audi plans to establish its first production site in the United States, in Georgia. The company intends to invest around $4 billion and create approximately 4,500 jobs.
The plant is designed for an annual capacity of up to 200,000 vehicles. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, and production is planned to start in the early 2030s. It will build premium SUVs tailored to North American customers, made locally. Audi wants North America to become the third major pillar of its global production network, alongside Europe and China.
Gernot Döllner, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG, pointed to the size of the market. As the world's second-largest premium market, he said, the US offers significant growth potential, and local production is a key element of a broader growth strategy built around customer needs, the product portfolio and a more competitive business model.
Why Georgia
Gerd Walker, the board member for production and logistics, said Georgia combines an investment-ready site, a skilled workforce, an established network of automotive suppliers and strong logistics infrastructure. The Middle Georgia Mega Site also leaves room for future expansion. The plant will be designed around Audi's future manufacturing requirements, with a focus on efficiency, flexibility and the ability to respond to changes in customer demand.
The roughly 4,500 planned jobs are also expected to open opportunities for suppliers, service providers and training partners in the region.
Building a plant from the ground up, Walker said, allows Audi to "rethink manufacturing from day one," with efficient and flexible processes, advanced technologies and a local supplier network. Audi's stated ambition is to set a benchmark for premium manufacturing.
Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp said Audi's decision to build its first American plant in the state is "another defining moment in that journey," as global companies come there to shape the future of their industries.
Manfred Döss, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, said a stronger presence in North America will help Audi build a more balanced and resilient global business and reduce its exposure to trade and currency risks. Germany and Europe, he added, will remain the industrial backbone of the company, and the North American expansion complements the existing production network.
Source: Audi