Audi Reveals Which Models It Plans To Build In America

Naturally, all will be large SUVs.

2027 Audi SQ9

Photo by: Audi

Adrian Padeanu

By: Adrian Padeanu

Oct 27, at 3:26am ET

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Audi is preparing to build its biggest SUVs in the United States, with the German luxury brand planning a $4 billion factory in Georgia. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with production planned for the early 2030s. However, the investment still requires approval from Volkswagen Group's relevant committees.

Located near Macon, the plant will have an annual production capacity of up to 200,000 vehicles and is expected to create approximately 4,500 jobs. Although the original announcement didn’t include any model names, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner revealed in an interview with Automotive News which models will carry the Made in USA label.

The Q7, Q8, and Q9 will form the backbone of the Georgia factory's lineup. That makes sense, since the United States is a key market for premium SUVs, where Audi competes with fellow German rivals BMW and Mercedes, along with local players such as Cadillac and Lincoln. The first-ever Q9, in particular, will target established full-size luxury SUVs such as the X7 and GLS, as Audi looks to strengthen its position at the top of the segment with a belated entry.

2027 Audi Q9

2027 Audi Q9

Photo by: Audi

The SUVs Will Likely Be Refreshed Before Production Starts

We need to talk about the timing. Audi has already revealed the next-generation Q7 and the first-ever Q9. By the time production starts in Georgia in the early 2030s, these luxobarges will likely have undergone a mid-cycle facelift. Meanwhile, both the Q7 and Q9 will be sourced from the Bratislava plant in Slovakia.

The same goes for the Q8, which, yes, will live to see a second generation. Announced earlier this year, the coupe-styled SUV will be assembled at Audi’s new plant, but until then, it’ll continue to be sourced from the Bratislava site. The next-generation model hasn't been revealed yet, but Döllner has already said it’ll break cover in the “nearer future.” Interestingly, a follow-up to the Q8 wasn’t part of the plan until Audi’s new top management changed.

As for smaller Q-badged models, Audi USA will continue importing the Q5 from the San José Chiapa plant in Mexico. Döllner mentioned that Q3 production for the US will continue at the Győr site in Hungary, at least during the Georgia plant's initial phase. That makes us think Audi could eventually build the Q3 in the US, but the plan hasn’t been finalized.

Predictably, there are no plans to build fully electric SUVs in Georgia, as the Q7, Q8, and Q9 will all have combustion engines. Plug-in hybrids are also part of the plan, and it’s safe to assume the V6 diesel available in Europe has no shot at making it stateside after the Dieselgate scandal.

2027 Audi Q7

2027 Audi Q7

Photos by: Audi

2027 Audi Q7

2027 Audi Q7

Photos by: Audi

The New Georgia Plant Will Only Build Audi Models

All vehicles built in Georgia will carry the Four Rings, as it’ll be an Audi-only site, with approximately half of production destined for the US market. Döllner said management considered building cars at VW’s Chattanooga, Tennessee, factory and at Scout Motors’ upcoming plant in Blythewood, South Carolina, but ultimately decided to start from scratch.

Beyond the model choice, the investment reflects Audi's ambition to expand in North America while reducing its exposure to import tariffs. The brand currently relies on vehicles shipped from Europe and Mexico to serve American customers, leaving it vulnerable to trade barriers that have weighed on VW Group's finances.

Local production should help Audi sidestep tariffs on imported finished vehicles. However, the final benefit will depend on sourcing, supply chains, and the trade rules in effect when the plant opens.

2025 Audi SQ8

2025 Audi SQ8

2025 Audi SQ8

2025 Audi SQ8

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Audi Will Build The Big SUVs Americans Want In America

For Audi, the priority is clear: build larger luxury SUVs closer to the customers who buy them. If the plan proceeds as expected, Georgia will become home to some of the brand's most important models while helping Audi compete more effectively in a market where local manufacturing has become an increasingly valuable advantage in the tariff-impacted era.

Technically, the Georgia plant isn't a done deal just yet, as the $4 billion investment still needs approval from the VW Group’s supervisory board. That said, Döllner is confident the green light will come by year-end, finally paving the way for Audi to establish its own manufacturing footprint in the United States.