PERRY, Ga. — President Donald Trump announced Saturday that German automaker Audi will establish an automobile assembly plant in Georgia, a development described at the rally as a major economic win for the state and a centerpiece of the president’s message about boosting U.S. manufacturing as the midterm elections approach.
Trump said the project represents a $4.2 billion investment near Macon and predicted the facility would eventually produce 200,000 cars a year. He framed the announcement as evidence that his trade and industrial policies are persuading foreign companies to expand production in the United States.
Company details, timeline and job estimates
Audi described the planned plant as its first in Georgia. In a company news release distributed during the event, Audi said the facility is expected to create approximately 4,500 jobs, with construction slated to begin in 2027 and vehicle production starting in the early 2030s. Company leaders onstage said the plant will focus on high-end sport-utility vehicles.
“This is a long-term investment, because we believe in the American market,” said Gernot Döllner, chairman of the board of management at Audi, adding the site would produce “our biggest and most premium SUVs.”
The announcement came during a campaign event in Perry where Trump was campaigning for Republican candidates in Georgia, a battleground state that the president won in 2024. The timing — on the eve of major midterm contests — underscores the political weight of large economic commitments.
Local and statewide implications
If realized as described, the Audi project would be among the largest economic developments in recent Georgia history. Officials and campaign surrogates at the rally hailed the project for the number of jobs it could bring to the region and for the potential to spur ancillary investment in suppliers, logistics and infrastructure.
Rick Jackson, the Republican nominee for governor who joined the event, publicly thanked the president for what he called the state’s largest economic deal. "Thank you on behalf of Georgia for putting the biggest economic deal in Georgia history right here today," Jackson said at the rally.
What officials and the company have said
Representatives from Audi accompanied Trump onstage during the announcement. Audi’s corporate materials released at the event reiterated the investment figure, timeline and job estimate but provided few additional specifics about the precise location, incentive package or how production would phase up to the 200,000-vehicle capacity.
Trump credited his administration’s tariffs and trade posture for encouraging foreign manufacturers to bring or expand production in the United States. At the rally he said, “Think of that. 200,000 cars a year. That’s incredible.”
Questions that remain
Several substantive details were not included in the announcement distributed at the rally. Officials did not provide:
- a specific site address for the proposed Macon-area plant;
- a detailed construction or hiring schedule showing how the facility would scale from groundbreaking to full capacity;
- information on state or local incentives, permitting steps, or environmental reviews tied to the project.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Investment | $4.2 billion |
| Estimated jobs | 4,500 |
| Annual production (target) | 200,000 cars |
| Construction begins | 2027 |
| Production begins | Early 2030s |
Local leaders and economic development officials typically negotiate and announce incentive packages and other support measures for projects of this scale; those numbers and legal agreements were not made public at the rally.
Political context
Trump’s appearance in Perry was part of a broader campaign swing to support Republican candidates in a state where control of federal offices remains competitive. The timing of the Audi news — delivered onstage during a high-profile rally — draws attention to how large investment announcements can intersect with political messaging and campaign strategy.
Audi’s public statement framed the plant as a long-term commitment to the U.S. market. If the project proceeds on the timeline provided, it will drive significant economic activity in central Georgia over the coming decade. Local residents, municipal officials and state lawmakers will likely be watching closely as more concrete project terms and the permitting process are revealed.
Reporting for this story included material released by Audi at the event and statements made from the rally stage.
