Import Luxury Car Tariffs Soar High, Audi And Porsche Consider Car Production In The US

Model 2025 from 911 GT3 and 911 GT3 with Touring Package. (Doc. Porsche)

JAKARTA - The new White House policy regarding import rates has the potential to trigger major turmoil, especially for automakers. This is what makes Volkswagen Group reportedly considering significant changes in its production strategy.

This news first emerged from Germany's publication, Handelsblatt, which was continued by Motor1, Thursday, January 30, citing an anonymous source familiar with the situation. It was stated that Porsche and Audi had the potential to divert some of their production to the United States.

This step was taken in anticipation of the potential increase in import rates which would make the prices of luxury cars soar if they were still produced outside the US.

Although there is no detailed information regarding the model or timeframe in question, the report alludes to the Scout Motors factory being built in South Carolina as a potential candidate for Audi production. The plant will later produce the Terra Traveler and pickup SUV, both electric. This raises speculation that Audi may be diverting some of E-Tron production to the United States.

Furthermore to the west, the VW plant already in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is also touted as a potential location for Audi and Porsche production. This relatively new facility started operating in 2011 and is currently producing VW Atlas and ID4. Given the popularity of the SUV, it makes sense that this factory will produce models such as Audi Q5 or Porsche Macan. Currently, no Audi or Porsche is produced in the United States.