Audi History

Shower gels and beauty brands have a way of grabbing attention with sensory-driven names and luxurious packaging. From silky cashmere creams to soothing balms, they promise a world of relaxation and indulgence. But what if beauty wasn’t about soft textures and fragrances? What if it was built from steel, precision engineering, and raw power?

That’s exactly where automobiles come in. And what better way to engage the senses than the deep growl of a high-performance engine? Audi, a name that literally means “listen” in Latin, embodies this connection between sound and speed. The brand was born out of passion, resilience, and a little stroke of linguistic genius after its founder, August Horch, was forced out of his own company in 1909.

Horch had been building cars since 1899, but legal issues forced him to start over under a new name. During a brainstorming session at his friend Franz Fikentscher’s apartment, Franz’s son—who was studying Latin—suggested “Audi” as a direct translation of “Horch” (which means “listen” in Old German). The name stuck, and history was made.

Audi hit the German market with powerful engines, starting with 2.6-liter models and quickly advancing to 4.7-liter and 5.7-liter beasts. Horch, having built a solid foundation, stepped away from the company in 1920. By 1928, Audi had been acquired by Jørgen Rasmussen, the owner of rival company DKW.

In 1932, a major merger took place, bringing together Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer to form Auto Union. This is when the iconic four-ring logo was born—a symbol of unity and innovation. The company prioritized technological advancements, even producing an armored car for the German Army during World War II.

However, progress was soon disrupted. Heavy bombings slowed production, and by the end of the war, Audi found itself in the Soviet-occupied zone of Zwickau, which later became part of East Germany. Auto Union was forced to relocate to Ingolstadt, Bavaria, where it had to start from scratch.

Rebuilding wasn’t easy, but the factory in Ingolstadt gradually attracted former workers and resumed production of two-stroke engines. By 1958, Daimler-Benz had acquired 87% of Auto Union, but it didn’t hold onto it for long—Volkswagen took over in 1964, setting the stage for Audi’s comeback.

Volkswagen quickly phased out the outdated two-stroke engines in favor of modern four-stroke designs. At the time, DKW was the leading brand under Auto Union, but it failed to capture the market. In response, Volkswagen decided to revive Audi. The first rebranded Audi models—like the 60, 75, and 80—laid the foundation for the brand’s resurgence.

In 1970, Audi merged with NSU, a Stuttgart-based car manufacturer, strengthening its position in the market. However, its expansion into North America hit a rough patch when a controversial report accused Audi vehicles of “unintended acceleration.” The issue stemmed from the close positioning of the brake and accelerator pedals, but the damage was done—sales plummeted. It wasn’t until the release of the Audi A4 in 1996 that the brand fully recovered.

Beyond luxury and performance, Audi has also dominated the racing world, setting multiple world records, including one for Top Speed Endurance. Today, Audi is a global powerhouse, consistently pushing the boundaries of innovation. With strong sales and an expanding market, the company is set to produce over a million units by the end of this year.

Audi

Current Models

Audi Q6

Audi A3 Allstreet

Audi Q8 Sportback

Audi Sq8 E-Tron

Audi Q8 E-Tron

Audi Q4 Sportback

Audi Q4 E-Tron

Audi E-Tron Gt

Audi Sq5 Sportback

Audi Q5 Sportback

Audi Sq8

Audi Rs Q8

Audi Q3 Sportback

Audi E-Tron Sportback

Audi Q8

Audi Sq2

Audi Rs5 Sportback

Audi Sq7

Audi Rs 3 Sedan

Audi Q2

Audi S3 Cabriolet

Audi A3 Sedan

Audi S3 Sedan

Audi Sq5

Audi Rs7 Sportback

Audi Q3

Audi S7 Sportback

Audi R8 Spyder

Audi S5 Sportback

Audi Rs 5

Audi A1

Audi Rs 3 Sportback

Audi A7

Audi S5 Cabriolet

Audi Tt Rs Coupe

Audi A5 Sportback

Audi Tt Rs Roadster

Audi A4 Allroad

Audi A5 Cabriolet

Audi S3 Sportback

Audi Q5

Audi A3 Cabriolet

Audi Q7

Audi Rs6 Avant

Audi Allroad

Audi Rs 4 Avant

Audi A3 Sportback

Audi Tt Roadster

Audi Tt Coupe

Audi S4

Audi S4 Avant

Audi S8

Audi A4 Avant

Audi S6 Avant

Audi A4

Audi A6

Audi A6 Avant

Audi A8

Discontinued Models

Audi R8 Gt

Audi S8 Plus

Audi S1

Audi S1 Sportback

Audi A1 Sportback

Audi Rs Q3

Audi Rs5 Cabriolet

Audi A1 Quattro

Audi R8 Gt Spyder

Audi Rs 4 Cabriolet

Audi A4 Cabriolet

Audi S4 Cabriolet

Audi A4 Dtm Edition

Audi A2

Audi A8 (D2)

Audi Cabriolet

Audi 80 Avant Rs2

Audi Coupe

Audi Coupe S2