On October 26, Christian Benners, who holds the position of President at IG Metall—Europe's premier trade union—publicly censured Audi CEO Gernot Döllner for his presence at a campaign event in Georgia, where he stood alongside U.S. President Trump. Benners deemed this act as "highly inappropriate" and expressed concern that it would heighten the existing tensions surrounding Audi's restructuring initiatives. At the rally, Trump revealed that Audi intends to invest a staggering sum of around $4 billion to construct a manufacturing facility in the vicinity of Macon. This plant would be dedicated to producing Audi's largest SUV models. Taking the opportunity to speak, Döllner expressed his gratitude to Trump for the support, characterizing the project as a "remarkable opportunity" for both Audi and the United States. Benners, who also serves as the Vice Chairman of Volkswagen's Supervisory Board, issued a cautionary note, emphasizing that labor representatives possess a voice in the decision-making process regarding the factory construction plan. Presently, worker representatives are actively striving to protect the interests of Audi and Volkswagen's German manufacturing sites. It is crucial to note that the establishment of any new factory in the U.S. necessitates the approval of Volkswagen's Supervisory Board, a body where employees occupy half of the seats.