Economy · 8 d ago
Audi's CEO draws backlash for joining Trump at a campaign rally in Georgia
The head of Germany's IG Metall union, who is also deputy chair of Volkswagen's supervisory board, says CEO Gernot Doellner broke the company's rules.
— Christiane Benner, head of IG Metall
Audi's code of conduct bars public engagements with politicians standing for election in the three months before a vote. A person familiar with the matter says Audi's management board cleared an exception beforehand.
Lower Saxony premier Olaf Lies said a rally is not the place to announce an investment of this size and that employees are worried. The plan comes as Volkswagen pushes to cut 100,000 jobs.
What we know
- Audi's board cleared an exception, a source says
- Doellner appeared at the rally
Not yet
- Whether VW's supervisory board approves
The U.S. plant plan still needs approval from Volkswagen's supervisory board, which includes German labour representatives.
