On November 14, 1899 in Kolonia, August Horch founded A. Horch & Cie. The first vehicle is also built there, but the founder, in order to continue to develop, is looking for business partners. Therefore, in 1904 the company is moved to Zwickau. Luxury models are produced with four-cylinder engines with capacities of 2.6 and 5.8 liters and power of 22 and 40 HP. Conflict of interests and financial problems caused that Horch in 1909 leaves the company and establishes the company - Audi Werke. Horch in German means listen, and audi is the same form in Latin. In this clever way Horch bypassed the ban on using his name in the name. The victories in the Austrian alpine rallies in 1911-1914 made it possible to promote the brand significantly.
The Wanderer company, which is founded in Chemnitz in 1885, is also important in the history of the brand. Its creators were Johann Baptist Winklhofer and R.A. Jaenicke. Initially, they produce bicycles, and the first cars under the Wanderer brand appear only in 1913.
It is also significant that in 1904, Dane Jorgen Skafte establishes a company in Rüssen, called Rasmussen & Ernst, which manufactures steam devices. The later name of Dampf-Kraft-Wagen came from the fact that the company started working on steam-powered vehicles. From 1928, the production of cars begins, and earlier motorcycles are made.
In 1921, Audi Werke produces the first left-hand car on the German market - the Audi 14/50 KM Type K. Two years later, the M type with a six-cylinder engine appears, and in 1927 the Audi Imperator debuts, which is Audi's first eight-cylinder car.
The crisis that occurred in the late twentieth century caused that small companies began to connect with each other in order to survive. This is also the case for the companies described. Audi, Horch, DKW and Wanderer merged in 1932 and the company - Auto Union, which had its headquarters in Chemnitz. Then also the famous logo appeared - four rings that were supposed to symbolize the combined companies. The division into market segments has also been determined. According to it, DKW owned motorcycles and small cars, Wanderer produced medium-class cars, Audi - the middle class, and Horch the most luxurious limousines.
DKW F89 Universal 1953-1954 / Photo. DKW In the 1930s, Auto Union competed with Mercedes on the racetracks. At the wheel of cars sat such drivers as Bernd Rosemeyer or Italy Tazio Nuvolari.
After World War II, the company was under the Soviet sphere of influence, but some employees managed to get to West Germany. There, in 1949, the production of cars under the name DKW began in Ingolstadt. Further financial problems caused that in 1958, the controlling stake of shares was taken over by Mercedes-Benz.
In 1964, the company was taken over by Volkswagen. A year later, cars called Audi appeared in the market again. In 1965, Volkswagen took over the NSU brand from Neckarlsum and merged with Auto Union to form the company Audi NSU Auto Union AG. The name was changed in 1985, when the company Audi AG based in Ingolstadt was established.
Audi 100 1968-1974 / Photo. Audi What models was produced by the German concern? Audi 72, the world premiere in 1965 at the exhibition in Frankfurt, and two years later appears Audi 60 and 75. The Audi 100, which debuted in 1968, is also very popular. In 1972, the first generation of Audi 80 appeared on the market. Important events include the introduction of a five-cylinder engine in 1976, turbocharging in 1979 and quattro all-wheel drive in 1980. At that time, Audi Quattro also premiered, celebrating many triumphs on rally routes.
Currently, the German manufacturer has in its offer, among others sports models - Audi TT and R8, off-road - Audi Q5 and Q7 and passenger cars - Audi A3, A4, A6, A7 and A8.