Audi plans $4.2bn first US plant in Georgia

Audi plans to invest $4.2 billion to build its first factory in the United States, with the plant expected to be in Macon, Georgia, President Donald Trump said at a campaign rally on Saturday.

Audi confirmed the planned investment in a release and said the plant would create about 4,500 jobs. Trump said Audi had committed to a factory that would produce 200,000 cars a year.

There was a timing difference between Trump's remarks and Audi's release. Trump said construction would begin next month, while Audi said construction was scheduled to start next year and production was expected in the early 2030s.

Audi, a unit of Volkswagen, said the investment was intended to establish North America as a third major pillar of its production network alongside Europe and China. The announcement came 10 days before US midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.

Volkswagen has faced US tariffs, competition from China and uneven demand in Europe. In September, the Volkswagen Group reached a deal with unions to cut up to 100,000 jobs by 2030, increasing expected cuts by 50,000 across the group.