The four rings
Just as the automaker began to earn success, World War One put Audi's operations on hold for four years. Slowly but surely, in 1918, everything went back to normal and new models were built.
Since there were too many car companies out there, loaning banks required most of them to merge. As a result, Wanderer, Horch, DKW and Audi agreed to become one, called Auto Union -- although their vehicles would still be sold under each respective brand's name. It has to be said that these four companies targeted four different markets.
DKW specialized in motorcycles and small cars, Wanderer produced midsize cars for aristocrats, Audi sold vehicles to the upper middle class (mid luxury) and Horch manufactured ultra premium cars.
The corporate logo was created when one of the members drew a circle around the first letter of each name. As it turned out, the four circles overlapped, which perfectly came to represent the Auto Union.
The new firm's legendary race cars, hailed as "shooting stars", were the first to use a mid-mounted engine; in the 1930s, they became nearly unbeatable, so much so that the rules were changed in order to eliminate them.
On the verge of a complete collapse!
World War II proved to be a disaster for Auto Union, which saw its growth and development go up in smoke. Assembly plants were partly destroyed and, since they were all located in East Germany, company executives fled to Bavaria and Austria in order not to fall to the communists.
And so, Horch and his gang settled in Ingolstadt (Bavaria), where they hoped to rise from the ashes. Auto Union was later purchased and briefly controlled by Mercedes-Benz, which then sold the rights to Volkswagen AG in the 1960s.
Just as the automaker began to earn success, World War One put Audi's operations on hold for four years. Slowly but surely, in 1918, everything went back to normal and new models were built.
Since there were too many car companies out there, loaning banks required most of them to merge. As a result, Wanderer, Horch, DKW and Audi agreed to become one, called Auto Union -- although their vehicles would still be sold under each respective brand's name. It has to be said that these four companies targeted four different markets.
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| The famous four-ring logo |
DKW specialized in motorcycles and small cars, Wanderer produced midsize cars for aristocrats, Audi sold vehicles to the upper middle class (mid luxury) and Horch manufactured ultra premium cars.
The corporate logo was created when one of the members drew a circle around the first letter of each name. As it turned out, the four circles overlapped, which perfectly came to represent the Auto Union.
The new firm's legendary race cars, hailed as "shooting stars", were the first to use a mid-mounted engine; in the 1930s, they became nearly unbeatable, so much so that the rules were changed in order to eliminate them.
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| Auto Union D Type in Donington |
On the verge of a complete collapse!
World War II proved to be a disaster for Auto Union, which saw its growth and development go up in smoke. Assembly plants were partly destroyed and, since they were all located in East Germany, company executives fled to Bavaria and Austria in order not to fall to the communists.
And so, Horch and his gang settled in Ingolstadt (Bavaria), where they hoped to rise from the ashes. Auto Union was later purchased and briefly controlled by Mercedes-Benz, which then sold the rights to Volkswagen AG in the 1960s.