Audi CEO Gernot Döllner anticipates more bearable tariff regulations in the coming months as ongoing talks between Brussels and Washington continue. He expects the conversations to yield clarity, dispelling some of the uncertainty plaguing the global auto industry.
“We expect to have clarity on this in the coming months and also regulations that will make what is currently on the horizon more bearable or manageable,” Döllner said at an industry event on Friday.
Döllner’s expectations aren’t unfounded. President Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer reached a limited agreement on Thursday. In addition, the United States and China slashed tariffs in an unexpected 90-day truce on Monday.
Audi, the premium brand of Volkswagen, faces mounting pressure due to the United States’ 25% tariff on imported autos. The company has no production within the U.S., the world’s second-largest car market, and imports all its vehicles.
Despite the uncertainty caused by the tariffs, Audi has maintained its full-year financial outlook. It projects a revenue of $76.28 billion to $81.93 billion and an operating margin of 7% to 9%.
Döllner recently confirmed Audi is looking to establish production in the United States. The company is considering building its first U.S.-based factory or utilizing an existing Volkswagen plant to make its vehicles. A final decision is nearing, and Döllner has stated previously that tariffs did not prompt the move but are part of Audi’s long-term strategy to strengthen its global footprint. Regardless, building a factory in America could help the automaker mitigate the financial impact of the tariffs and boost its competitiveness in the U.S. market.
