Audi CEO faces backlash after joining Trump at midterm campaign rally
IG Metall said Gernot Doellner violated Audi’s political neutrality rules after appearing with Donald Trump at a rally announcing a $4 billion plant.
- Audi CEO Gernot Doellner appeared alongside President Donald Trump at a Georgia campaign rally to announce a $4 billion plant in Perry, Georgia, designed to produce 200,000 SUVs annually.
- Christiane Benner, head of Germany's IG Metall union, accused Doellner of violating Audi's code of conduct, which bars public appearances with politicians standing for election during the three months before a vote.
- Benner called the appearance "deeply embarrassing, politically unacceptable" and unworthy of Audi employees. The company's policy explicitly prohibits "public engagements with political parties or politicians standing for election" during election windows.
- The $4 billion project requires approval from the Volkswagen supervisory board, which manages tensions over sweeping restructuring. Benner stressed the decision must be made "with the full picture in mind."
- Audi's US expansion coincides with Volkswagen's push to cut 100,000 jobs amid heavy losses in China and costly EV transitions. Trump's past support for the AfD party further complicates his role as an ally for German corporate leadership.
28 Articles
28 Articles
Audi's CEO, Gernot Döllner, was present on October 24 at a meeting of Donald Trump in the state of Georgia, a move that "flavors" the group's internal rules according to the president of the German union IG Metall.
Reformatorisch Dagblad
Daniela Cavallo, chair of the Volkswagen Group Works Council, has sharply criticized the performance of Audi CEO Gernot Döllner at a Donald Trump election rally. This is reported by the German news agency dpa.
US President Trump and Audi CEO Döllner on one stage - this is met with sharp criticism. The CEO announced a new plant in the USA. Now the company's own guidelines could become a problem for him.
German union slams Audi boss's appearance at Trump rally
Audi CEO Gernot Doellner appeared Saturday at a Republican campaign event in Georgia -- just days before crucial midterm elections -- during which Trump announced Audi would invest $4.2 billion to build its first US plant in the state. Christiane Benner, president of Germany's powerful IG Metall union, said Doellner's appearance at the rally was "extremely embarrassing, politically unacceptable and not worthy of the company". She accused Doelln…
German media criticize Audi's leader for supporting Trump in an event, pointing to an ethical and political breakdown in his participation.Audi plans a factory in the US with billionaire investment, generating thousands of jobs, despite controversy over the presence of his manager.
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