Audi TraditionBrand milestones
Audi AG has a strong tradition of car and engine manufacturing that extends back to the 19th century. Below are key milestones throughout the history of Audi.
August Horch and Audi
1899: The first chapter in the history of Audi began when August Horch established his motor vehicle company known as Horch & Cie. Motorwagenwerke. It was, however, ten years later that he founded his second car manufacturing company: Audi Automobilwerke in Zwickau.
Focus on safety
In 1921, Audiwerke AG took the motoring world by surprise when it unveiled the new Audi 14/50 hp Type K, Germany's first left-hand-drive car. It was then that Audi branched out into more than just engine and suspensionSuspensionSee 4-link front suspension, 4-link rear suspension, dynamic suspension, stabilizer bar, and trapezoidal-link rear suspension.Suspension technology, it began to channel more energy into the areas of driving safetySafetySee active safety and passive safety.Safety and ease of operation.
The four rings
1932: The interlocking rings symbolize the initial merger of four automobile manufacturers based in the German state of Saxony: Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer became Auto Union AG, then the second-largest motor vehicle manufacturing group in Germany.
A new start in Ingolstadt
1949: Originally just a depot for Auto Union’s spare parts, the former garrison town of Ingolstadt became the new headquarters for Auto Union GmbH. From here, the company continued the motor-vehicle traditions embodied by the four ring emblem.
The brand born again
1965: The new DKW F 102 model appeared on the market. This was the brand’s first post-war car and featured a four-stroke engine. This truly marked the beginning of a new era, and with that, the brand deserved a new name. Audi, a name rich in tradition, was revived.
Vorsprung durch Technik
1969: With Volkswagenwerk AG as the parent company, Auto Union GmbH and NSU Motorenwerke AG of Neckarsulm merged under the new name “Audi NSU Auto Union AG”. 1971 saw the appearance of the famous Audi slogan “Vorsprung durch TechnikVorsprung durch Technik"Vorsprung durch Technik" is Audi's tagline in Germany. Literally translated, it means "advancement through technology"; however, English cannot fully capture the meaning of "Vorsprung" which means "to leap ahead."Vorsprung durch Technik ”.
