Who Makes Audi? – The story behind the four rings

The automotive industry is quite a fascination. The industry tree contains a range of manufacturers and popular brands of motor vehicles across the globe. Audi is a world-known automobile brand for stylish luxury cars and SUVs. Nevertheless, have you ever wondered who owns these brands? Who makes Audi exactly? How are these companies related and competes at the same time? If yes, this article will help you to clear all your doubts. 

Decades at a glance

The German automotive manufacturer Audi was originated in 1899 by its then-owner August Horch. Initially, Mr. August and his partner Herr Horch founded the Hoch & Cie auto group, which he later stepped down due to the creative issues between the two partners. Upon this deviation, Mr. August Horch started his fully-owned Auto manufacturing company named Audi, the Latin translation of his surname Horch. In the process of growing the brand internationally, Mr. August Horch partnered with DKW (Dampfkraftwagen – steam-driven vehicles), Wanderer (Motorcycle manufacturer), and Horch to form an Audi Union AG. Hence the interlinked four rings logo represent each four individual car companies. However, the owners used this logo only on auto union racing cars in its initial days.

The company remarked its establishment on the 3rd September 1949 as Auto Union GmbH in Ingolstadt and continued to grow in the international market. However, with the withdrawal of Mr. August from the union after WWII, the car union followed some massive ownership changes.

Who Makes Audi Now?

On 24th April 1958, Daimler -Benz AG acquired 87% of the Union AG’s shares. The company remained a subsidiary of the Stuttgart- based Daimler group until February 1965. Even though Daimler acquired 100% of Union shares by 1959, the owners did not lay much interest over the car line up of Audi where the management invested mainly in Mercedez Benz. Since Audi could not compete with its core competitors such as Volkswagen and Opel throughout the economic boom, the owners decided to give out. Later in December 1964, Volkswagenwerk AG acquired the majority of Audi Union AG, where it finally became a wholly-owned subsidiary of VW AG by the end of 1966. Many believed that following this acquisition, the modern era of the German carmaker Audi was commenced. Even today, it is the VW AG that holds the ownership of the same.

In March 1969, VW AG merged Union AG with NSU Moterenwerke AG in forming Audi NSU Auto Union AG. Consequently, the brand emerged as a separate brand, where Volkswagen began introducing Audi Models to the United States of America. However, in early 1985 Audi NSU Auto Union AG changed to Audi AG. Till today the company has been maintaining the same name as its corporate name.

Where do they make Audi?

The German automaker has placed its headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany. Nonetheless, there are manufacturing plants all over the world…

• Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm, Germany
• Aurangabad, India
• Bratislava, Slovakia
• Brussels, Belgium
• Changchun, China
• Gyor, Hungary
• Jakarta, Indonesia
• Martorell, Spain
• San Jose Chiapas, Mexico
• Kaluga, Russia

The German-based automaker continues to pioneer new technologies, remarkable design structures, and emotions in the automobile industry. Moreover, this brand has been one of the successful premium automakers in the world. So, are you excited to learn more about one of the top German carmakers Audi? Here is a video on 15 fascinating things you probably didn’t know about this German carmaker.

Visit the previous review of the RS7.