VW labor chief condemns Audi CEO's appearance at Trump rally as disgraceful
Daniela Cavallo, head of the VW works council, sharply criticized Gernot Döllner for supporting Donald Trump at a campaign event, citing a clash with company values.
In an internal discussion, Daniela Cavallo, the chair of the Volkswagen works council, denounced Audi chief Gernot Döllner’s thank-you speech after Donald Trump announced a new Audi factory in Perry, Georgia. Cavallo described the appearance as “active campaign assistance” that contradicts Audi’s policy prohibiting public engagements with political candidates during the pre-election period. She invoked Volkswagen’s Nazi-era origins to underline the seriousness of the breach, warning that the company was being used as a propaganda tool.
Cavallo said the US market is attractive but stressed that any decision on the plant must consider its impact on existing sites, especially in Germany, and that employee representatives have not yet given their consent. The upcoming US midterm elections on 3 November add further political sensitivity to the controversy.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights tensions between corporate political involvement and labor representation in a high-profile US investment.
How this story developed
- Sep 4 Chinese automakers show growing interest in Austria's production and development sector
- Sep 24 Chinese firms have moved from exploring to setting up joint electric‑car assembly projects in Graz.
- Oct 7 European Commission trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic will meet Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao in Beijing to discuss limiting Chinese exports to the EU.
- Oct 9 The Chinese commerce ministry dismissed import‑quota proposals and opened an anti‑dumping probe into EU‑origin PVC ahead of the talks.
- Oct 18 Volkswagen intends to keep salaries unchanged for a large portion of its worldwide workforce until 2030, potentially cutting earnings by around ten percent.
- Oct 19 The spokesperson said upcoming negotiations will focus on internal agreements.
- Oct 25 Donald Trump said Audi will invest $4.2 billion to build a factory near Macon, Georgia, creating 4,500 jobs and producing 200,000 cars annually.
- Oct 25 The projected start of construction was revised from next month to simply “soon.”
- Oct 25 Groundbreaking is planned for next year with production targeted for the early 2030s.
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