Audi chief executive Gernot Döllner has been criticised by German politicians and trade unionists after joining Donald Trump on stage at a midterm campaign rally in Georgia on Saturday, Politico Europe reports.
At the rally Mr Trump announced that Audi plans to invest about $4 billion in a new US factory, its first car production in the country. Social Democrat MP Isabel Cademartori called the appearance a new low for the Volkswagen Group, while CDU MEP Dennis Radtke described turning an investment into campaign theatre as "disturbing and pathetic".
IG Metall leader Christiane Benner said Mr Döllner had breached company rules on political neutrality before elections. Audi said the US offered considerable growth potential and that local production was central to its strategy. Volkswagen is restructuring in Germany, with plant closures and job cuts expected.
Source: Politico Europe
