Audi's Planned U.S. Plant Speeds Volkswagen Restructuring

0852 GMT - Audi's planned new plant in the U.S. will accelerate restructuring within parent Volkswagen, J.P.Morgan analysts Jose M Asumendi and Piyush Singla write. The bank notes that Audi's Neckarsulm plant in southwest Germany is one of four German Volkswagen plants facing possible closure after 2030. Audi said over the weekend that it planned to invest around $4 billion to establish its first U.S. production site that will have annual production capacity of up to 200,000 vehicles and create around 4,500 jobs. The plant, which will be built in Georgia, will manufacture premium SUVs tailored to North American customers. Last year, Trump's ‌tariffs dealt Audi a 1.2 billion euro blow as it imports all of its vehicles for the U.S. market from Europe or Mexico, the bank adds. Volkswagen shares rise 1%.