nuOct 30, 2026, 06:15

Audi supervisory board meets over 'deeply embarrassing' CEO appearance with Trump

Audi CEO Döllner is under fire from German labor leaders for appearing at a Donald Trump rally to announce a new SUV factory in the United States. Critics have labeled the move a violation of corporate neutrality and a propaganda stunt, complicating the project's pending approval by the Volkswagen Group supervisory board.

Audi CEO Döllner faced intense criticism after appearing on stage at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Georgia to announce a proposed four-billion-dollar SUV factory in the United States. The appearance, which took place shortly before the American midterm elections, has been labeled deeply embarrassing and a scandal by various German labor leaders and political figures. Daniela Cavallo of the Volkswagen Group works council condemned the action, accusing the executive of participating in a propaganda event alongside a controversial political figure. She criticized the alignment with rhetoric she described as racist and sexist, arguing it violated the company's standards of political neutrality.

In response, Audi and Döllner defended the move by highlighting the economic significance of the planned investment, which is intended to produce 200,000 SUVs annually. Despite this justification, the project still requires formal approval from the Volkswagen Group supervisory board, where labor representatives hold half of the seats. The incident has intensified internal friction ahead of the company's third-quarter earnings report, which is scheduled for release this Friday.

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Based on reporting by nu. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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