Audi Company History

Audi is a German car brand that was created in 1910 in Zwickau, Germany. The company was founded by August Horch. Audi manufacture a full range of luxury sedans, coupes, SUVs, crossovers, estates, convertibles, and high performance cars in Germany and factories around the world. They’re best known for their reliable cars that do what they’re supposed to do. Audi headquarters are currently in Ingolstadt, Germany in Europe.

Audi Company Timeline – History

1899 – August Horch starts an automobile company using “Horch” as the brand in Zwickau, Germany.

1901 – The first Horch automobile is produced.

1909 – The members of Horch force August to resign. August Horch starts a new company, once again using “Horch” as the brand name. Former partners sue August for trademark infringement and Horch is forced to find a new name. His son, studying Latin at the time, suggests “Audi”, the Latin term for “hearing” and the meaning of the name “Horch.”

1920 – Horch leaves the Audi company.

1921 – Audi introduces a left-handed drive, the first German auto maker to create a left-hand auto, making it easier to judge passing and providing a superior view of oncoming traffic.

1928 – Jorgen Rasmussen purchases a majority share of Audi and incorporates the eight-cylinder engines from Rickenbacker into the cars.

1929 – Audi’s first eight cylinder engines are introduced in the cars the Audi Zwickau and the Audi Dresden.

1932 – Audi merges with Horch, DKW, and Wanderer. The conglomerate is then called “Auto Union.” Auto Union uses a four lined chain to symbolize the joining of the companies. Audi continued to use this symbol on its cars in later years.

1940 – Audi is forced to make vehicles for the German military and civilian production is stopped.

1945 – Upon the end of WWII, Auto Union manufacturing plants were dismantled and expropriated without compensation.

1948 – Auto Union is liquidated.

1949 – Auto Union is reestablished in Bavaria and begins producing motorcycles and delivery vans.

1950 – Auto Union introduces the DKW Meisterklasse, a saloon car available to the public and also available as a convertible.

1964 – Volkswagen acquires the trademarks to the Auo Union

1965 – Volkswagen relaunches the Audi brand, more of a model distinction rather than a true manufacture.

1970 – Volkswagen introduces the Audi brand to the United States beginning with the Audi 100.

1980 – Volkswagen begins to create racing models for its American market, beginning with the Audi Quattro, in order to build up the Audi brand as reliable, luxurious, and fast.

1985 – The company name is officially changed to Audi AG.

1996 – Audi sales improve in America after a short decline resulting from the close proximity of the gas and brake pedals. The Audi A4 is introduced to the American market.

2007 – Audi AG reports record sales of cars.

2008 – Audi celebrates its thirteenth consecutive year selling over one million automobiles.

2016 – Audi AG opens their first car manufacturing plant in North America. Puebla, Mexico is the location.

2018 – Audi announced that it would spend almost $16 billion USD on developing e-mobility self-driving cars

More on Audi Vehicles

Please add to the conversation on the Audi car company in the comments below. Have you ever owned an Audi and what do you think of them? Check out the Audi company page here, Audi Dealerships, Audi Quotes, or the Audi Logo history here.