Criticism of Audi boss Döllner continues after his appearance with Trump

Criticism of the Audi boss doesn't stop from "considerable disturbing feeling" to demands for resignation As of: October 26, 2026 • 8:56 p.m

Audi boss Döllner's appearance alongside US President Trump continues to cause criticism. SPD General Secretary Klüssendorf is demanding consequences from the parent company VW. Audi itself defends its appearance.

The criticism of Audi boss Gernot Döllner's appearance alongside US President Donald Trump continues unabated. After sharp criticism from unions and employees, several politicians also spoke out.

SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf spoke of a “scandal”. On the online service Instagram, he explained that Audi boss Döllner was "rewarding Donald Trump's customs policy with campaign help and the construction of a new factory" - while the VW Group wanted to cut jobs in Germany at the same time. "Instead of fighting for a strong German automotive location, he prefers to run after the US President. This must have consequences within the VW Group."

Left leader Luigi Pantisano had previously even called for Döllner to resign. Döllner had to “take his hat off,” Pantisano told the news portal t-online. “Especially at VW, where the state of Lower Saxony is responsible, this must have consequences.”

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Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Olaf Lies was also critical of Döllner's appearance. The decision in favor of an Audi plant in the USA could be "strategically right", but an election campaign event is "not the right place" to announce such an investment, said the SPD politician.

Döllner had become “part of a political production,” which was strange. As a major shareholder, the state of Lower Saxony holds 20 percent of the voting rights in Audi's parent company, Volkswagen.

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The head of the CDU workers' wing, Dennis Radtke, said Trump's policies were "massively damaging German industry, including the automotive industry." "If the ethics and compliance rules for Volkswagen's board of directors and supervisory board should represent more than a mixture of management calendar sayings and wall tattoos, then they must now take a clear position on this," the CDU politician told the Handelsblatt.

The Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg, Cem Özdemir, said that the Audi boss's involvement in the US President's election campaign left him with a "significant feeling of disruption." The Audi Neckarsulm plant is located in Baden-Württemberg and is considered to be at risk. “Anyone who invests a lot of money in Georgia must also say what can happen next in Neckarsulm,” said Green Party politician Özdemir.

Döllner appeared alongside President Donald Trump at a US Republican campaign event on Saturday. The VW subsidiary wants to build its first plant in the USA in Georgia, with an investment of 4.2 billion dollars (3.6 billion euros). The company says about 4,500 jobs will be created.

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An Audi spokeswoman said an Audi delegation was in Georgia to further advance discussions and negotiations about the planned plant. As part of these discussions, the company was asked to present the plans together with the US President.

The decision to accept this invitation was made in the interests of the company. "At the same time, we see that the framework of the announcement was perceived as a political signal. We take that very seriously."

“Party political neutrality” is “an important principle for Audi,” said the spokeswoman. The company does not question the company's own conduct guidelines from the "Booklet of Policies".

US President Trump and Audi boss Döllner on one stage - that met with sharp criticism. more

The Volkswagen works council chairwoman, Daniela Cavallo, had previously accused Döllner of exactly that, a violation of the Audi rules. According to Cavallo, the “Booklet of Policies” provides for “neutrality in dealing with parties” for employees and prohibits, for example, “public appointments with parties and politicians who are up for election.”

According to Cavallo, the board "allowed itself to be made into a puppet in his propaganda show by a highly dubious political figure who violates pretty much all of our corporate values."

IG Metall boss Christiane Benner also described the appearance as “politically unacceptable”. Döllner had “blatantly” violated its own company rules.

This topic in the program: The First | tagesschau.de | Oct 26, 2026 | 8:00 p.m