Audi's Origins Trace Back to August Horch's First Company Founded in 1899
Automotive pioneer August Horch established his first company, A. Horch & Cie., in 1899, laying the foundation for the globally recognized Audi brand, which later emerged from a corporate merger.
Automotive engineering pioneer August Horch founded his first company, A. Horch & Cie., in Cologne on November 14, 1899. This venture served as the precursor to the globally recognized Audi brand.
After relocating his company to Reichenbach and then Zwickau, Horch left due to disagreements and founded a new automotive enterprise. Unable to use his own name, he translated it into Latin, resulting in "Audi," the imperative form of the Latin word for "to hear."
On June 29, 1932, facing financial challenges, Audi, DKW, Horch, and the automotive division of Wanderer Werke merged to form Auto Union AG, becoming Germany's second-largest automotive group. The iconic four interlocking rings logo symbolizes this unity, with each brand representing a specific vehicle segment.
The Audi brand debuted within Auto Union AG at the 1933 Berlin Motor Show, introducing front-wheel drive technology to the upper mid-range segment. While initially met with buyer hesitancy, the subsequent Audi 920 model, launched in 1938 with rear-wheel drive and enhanced performance, proved successful and sold out shortly after its introduction.