By Reuters

(Reuters) - German premium carmaker Audi is pushing ahead with ‌plans to bring its Q9 SUV ‌to the US market this summer despite another looming ​tariff hike, finance chief Juergen Rittersberger said on Tuesday.

If tariffs on EU automotive imports are raised to 25% as announced ‌by President Donald ⁠Trump, this would be a significant burden for Audi, but this ⁠has not yet been confirmed, Rittersberger said.

The Volkswagen subsidiary is particularly exposed to ​US trade ​barriers because it ​has no own production in ‌the country and relies on imports from Europe and Mexico to serve American buyers.

The Q9, the brand's flagship luxury SUV, is being produced at Audi's plant in ‌Bratislava.

Audi has been discussing ​the possibility of building ​its own ​US plant for years.

Rittersberger said that ‌Audi is currently exploring ​various options ​together with Volkswagen. "Without political support in the form of subsidies, tariff reductions, ​or similar ‌measures, it will be difficult."

(Reporting by Christina ​Amann, Writing by Rachel More, ​editing by Kirsti Knolle)

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