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the late 1800's the automobile was invented. The technical foundations of motorised
transport had been decided: the “thing” would have four wheels, one
in each corner, and would be propelled by an internal combustion engine. That
much was certain, but not much else. At this time, there were many
heroes of the automobile: Gottfried Daimler and Carl Benz of Germany, Siegfried
Marcus of Austria, and the Americans, George Baldwin Seldon and Henry Ford.
But for Audi, it is a young, ambitious engineer, August Horch, who begins
the story of exceptional progress. In 1896 Horch discovered the exciting possibilities
of the new technology, and signed on with Benz, then the most influential figure
of the automobile world. Horch would become one of the most important men in European
automobile history - he helped found and name the car companies Horch (1899) and
Audi (1909). Today Audi is now a manufacturer of
exquisite cars – beautiful, sophisticated machines that embody technological
perfection. Our success is built on our core values of creativity, commitment
and enthusiasm, and keeping our customers’ desires at the heart of everything
we do. We strive to lead the way through constant innovation, setting new standards
that define Vorsprung durch Technik. Audi’s history is one
of the most many-faceted stories ever told in the history of the automobile in
general. The Audi emblem with its four rings identifies one of Germany’s
oldest-established automobile manufacturers. It symbolises the amalgamation in
1932 of four previously independent motor-vehicle manufacturers: Audi, DKW, Horch
and Wanderer. These companies form the roots of what is today AUDI AG.
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AUDI