Trump says Audi to invest US$4.2bil in its first US auto plant

President Donald Trump defended his decision to impose tariffs during a campaign rally in Georgia, claiming they have benefited the United States economically. He announced that Volkswagen had agreed to build a new US$4.2 billion Audi plant in the state, describing it as "the single largest investment in US auto industry history."

Trump stated that without tariffs, Volkswagen would not have built the plant. This announcement comes as Republicans attempt to flip a Senate seat held by Democrat Jon Ossoff in the midterm elections. Despite trailing in the polls, Trump has been campaigning in Georgia, underlining the significance of the Senate race. With less than two weeks until the November 3 election, Republican candidate Mike Collins faces an uphill battle against Democrat Jon Ossoff, who leads in polls by over eight percentage points.

The Republican Party's struggles, compounded by Trump's low approval ratings and the high cost of living, have made it difficult to appeal to voters. The Audi plant, which will manufacture the Audi Q7, Q8, and Q9 models, will create approximately 4,500 jobs and add new capacity for vehicle production starting in the early 2030s.

Volkswagen plans to expand its existing Scout Motors plant in South Carolina, adding 25,000 units per year for an unspecified model.