Automotive industry: Audi has massive capacity utilization problems in Germany - but is already planning a new plant in the USA
Today, the VW Supervisory Board meeting is set to discuss additional production for Audi in the US. However, the premium brand can't even fully utilize its main plant in Ingolstadt.
Düsseldorf - Audi's Audi chief executive Gernot Döllner faces a major decision on Friday as the Audi board of Volkswagen Group discusses the North American strategy for the world's second-largest carmaker. The focus is on a plan that aims to make Audi independent of US tariffs: the brand could build large SUVs in a new American factory in the early 2030s.
Plans are reportedly in place to produce the Q9 and Q7 models, which debuted this year, in a US factory. These SUVs are currently manufactured in the Slovak city of Bratislava. Audi has not commented on the plans. The idea of a new plant in the United States has been a topic for years, with several reports from the Handelsblatt newspaper.
Unlike direct competitors BMW and Mercedes, Audi's premium sister company from Volkswagen does not have its own plant in the United States. The vehicles for the US market are currently imported from Europe and Mexico, each subject to a 15 or 25 percent tariff, respectively. These tariffs have caused Audi's US business to suffer billions in losses.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
