German automaker Audi’s decision to locate its first U.S. plant in Georgia was a trifecta for Gov. Brian Kemp, who sees it as a major part of his legacy as he prepares to leave office.
When campaigning the first time for governor eight years ago, Kemp pledged to bring more jobs to rural parts of the state.
He went on to assemble three “megasites” strategically located east and south of Atlanta.
First, Rivian jumped in, choosing the site near Social Circle. Then came Hyundai, picking the second site near Savannah.
Finally, on Saturday, Gernot Döllner, CEO and chairman of the Audi AG board, announced plans to build the company’s first U.S. plant at the third megasite, in Peach County, near Macon.
Audi said it wanted to be closer to customers in North America. Kemp’s office said the company would make as many as 200,000 vehicles a year at the facility by 2031, with SUVs tailored to the continent.
On Monday, the term-limited Kemp characterized the announcement as mission accomplished. The plant, in which Audi plans to invest about $4 billion, is expected to create about 4,500 jobs in the region.
“We will see this payoff for decades to come,” he said at the Capitol.
Pat Wilson, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, said the jobs will be hightech, in a highly-automated plant, and will pay workers an average of more than $63,000 a year, pumping $283 million annually into the state economy.
“Those are quality jobs, high-skill jobs,” Wilson said.
The contracts have not been inked. Audi’s board of directors must still approve the deal.
But Kemp and Wilson said they were confident in sealing a deal that has been nearly two years in the making.
It came together in fits and starts after Kemp said he read an article in the Wall Street Journal about the company’s interest in making cars in the United States.
The Munich Security Conference was approaching in early 2025, and Kemp saw it as an opportunity to sell Georgia. He had been making trade trips abroad and would be speaking at the event.
The governor said he asked Wilson to arrange a meeting with Audi.
“It was really a cold call quite honestly,” Kemp said.
The company agreed to meet. They convened in a small room at a hotel. Georgia’s team showed Audi executives the megasite, and Audi responded with a poker face.
“They didn’t really say a whole lot to us best I remember,” Kemp said.
Later, the company expressed interest, and a deal seemed to be in the offing. Then Audi stopped talking to Georgia. Kemp said the state was planning to market the megasite to other companies, but Audi returned to the table.
The site’s location near Georgia’s rail lines, ports and automotive parts suppliers attracted Audi, Kemp said, adding that he thought access to a skilled workforce was the top selling point.
Another major selling point, both Kemp and Wilson said, was the preparation at the megasites that would allow a company to quickly get a new plant up and running.