The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday edition that Audi chief executive officer Gernot Doellner drew heavy criticism on Monday for appearing alongside U.S. President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in the battleground state of Georgia, with the head of Germany's top union saying it violated the automaker's company guidelines. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says that Mr. Doellner appeared alongside Mr. Trump at the rally to announce plans to build a $4-billion (U.S.) plant, the luxury carmaker's first in the U.S., which would produce 200,000 SUVs annually. The announcement of the plan, which needs approval of Volkswagen, including German labour representatives, follows lengthy considerations over launching U.S. production to escape import tariffs that cost Audi around $1.3-billion (U.S.) last year. "Doellner is also in flagrant breach of his own company's rules, which expressly require political neutrality in the run-up to elections," said union head Christiane Benner. Audi's management board had cleared an exception to the company's code of conduct before Mr. Mr. Doellner's appearance. German automotive expert Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer referred to Mr. Doellner as a "mini-Elon Musk," comparing him with the Tesla boss.