Audi Fears Proposed U.S. Auto Tariffs Could Cripple Upcoming Q9 SUV

Juergen Rittersberger, Chief Financial Officer of German luxury automaker Audi, said on May 5 that the U.S. proposal to raise tariffs on EU auto imports to 25% would deal a "significant" blow to Audi if implemented. The announcement comes as Audi prepares to launch its largest SUV, the Q9, in the U.S. market this summer. The Q9, produced at Audi’s plant in Bratislava, Slovakia, would be directly affected by the proposed tariffs. As Audi lacks its own manufacturing facilities in the United States, it relies on vehicle imports from Europe and Mexico to supply the U.S. market, making it highly vulnerable to trade barriers. Rittersberger noted that the tariff policy has not yet been finalized, but if enacted, it would impose a substantial burden on the company. Audi is currently evaluating, together with its parent company Volkswagen Group, the possibility of establishing a production facility in the United States.