Audi traces history of its four rings emblem
Audi AG has released a historical overview tracing the company's origins back to the 19th century. The four rings emblem symbolizes the 1932 merger of four distinct automotive brands into Auto Union AG.
Ingolstadt – Audi AG has published a historical account detailing the company's eventful and varied past, with roots in automobile and motorcycle manufacturing extending back to the 19th century.
The German automotive industry was historically shaped by four brands: Audi and Horch in Zwickau, Wanderer in Chemnitz, and DKW in Zschopau. These entities merged in 1932 to form Auto Union AG, which became Germany's second-largest motor vehicle manufacturer by production volume. The newly formed company adopted four interlinked rings as its emblem, representing the four founding companies.
Following World War II, Auto Union AG's production facilities in Saxony were seized and dismantled by the Soviet occupying powers. Key executives relocated to Bavaria, where Auto Union GmbH was established in 1949, continuing the legacy of the four-ring emblem. In 1969, Auto Union GmbH merged with NSU to form Audi NSU Auto Union AG, which has been known as AUDI AG since 1985, with its headquarters in Ingolstadt.
Among the founding brands, Horch was established by August Horch, a pioneer in automotive engineering. He began his business in Cologne in 1899, later relocating to Zwickau. Horch introduced significant technical innovations, including cast aluminum for engine and gearbox housings. After a dispute, Horch left his namesake company in 1909 and founded a new one in Zwickau, naming it Audi – the Latin translation of his surname.