Audi's $4 billion US investment is drawing criticism in Germany, where carmakers are cutting jobs and Trump's tariffs are adding to industry pressures

US President Donald Trump announced the investment on Saturday, during a campaign rally in Georgia, a key battleground state for his Republican Party in the midterm elections next week. Audi quickly confirmed the plan, saying it would build its first US factory near Macon, Georgia, costing around $4 billion (€3.6 billion) and creating some 4,500 jobs. The German automaker said construction would begin next year, with a planned annual production of up to 200,000 vehicles due to start in the early 2030s. The firm plans to build premium SUVs for the US market at the plant, marking a "long-term commitment" to what it said was "one of the world's most important premium markets.