Frankfurt – October 27, 2026 -- IG Metall chair Christiane Benner has demanded a "very clear" commitment from Audi to its German sites after the carmaker announced a planned plant in Georgia, USA, while workers at four Volkswagen Group plants in Germany fear for their jobs.
Audi CEO announced the Georgia plant at a Trump campaign event
Audi CEO Gernot Döllner disclosed the plan at the weekend during a campaign event with Donald Trump. Benner criticized the appearance in an interview with TV broadcaster phoenix. In her view, it has left employees angry and uncertain on top of existing job worries.
Four German plants already face job insecurity within Volkswagen Group
Audi belongs to the Volkswagen Group, where staff at four German plants are anxious about their jobs. IG Metall is working on future perspectives for these sites, Benner said.
Union backs North American expansion but wants job guarantees
Benner said the union itself urges the group to open new markets, explicitly including North America. She expects the management board to deliver both growth in new markets and security for employees at the German plants, and said the two goals need not conflict.
The union will now press harder for job security, Benner said. Employees should not bear the consequences of any further reputational damage to the group, she added.