Audi History
The history of the German company called `Audi` that produces automobiles can be traced back to 1899. It was the year when August Horch founded `Horch and Company` firm. Five years later this newly established company achieved certain success but in 1909 August Horch produces a 6-cylinder motor: a total failure that almost bankrupted the company. That was the reason why the founder`s partners decided to fire Horch. The same year this talented inventor registers one more firm named `Horch`. His competitors from `Horch and Company` sue him and win the case. That is the newly opened firm was forced to be renamed. The company`s owner chose a Latin translation of the German word `Horch` (listen), which sound like `Audi`.
The first Audi automobile was produced in 1910 and the company was first acknowledged in 1911 during car races in Austrian Alps. One more Audi model was produced a year later and that was Audi-C.
Audi was going through an economic slump in the nineteen 20ies and therefore nearly bankrupted. Consequently, a need emerged to merge with another automobile firm so that to avoid bankruptcy. The economic crisis of the 30ies was another test for `Audi`. German automobile manufacturers merged into a concern `Auto Union` and `Horch and Company` also entered this union. This concern managed to have produced two models that were rather successful and sold well before WWII.
`Auto Union` concern was many times reorganized after WWII and several of its owners replaced one another. In 1958 `Volkswagen` gets controlling block of shares. `Audi` automobiles once again appear in production because of the changes. And finally in 1968 the company makes it ultimate comeback offering the customers a wide range of models. The emblem of the revived company was kept unchanged: 4 crossing circles that had to have symbolized an integration of the four companies in 1932.
The 60ies were marked by `Audi` breakthrough on the European market: first it was Audi 100 introduced and than Audi Quattro featuring all-wheel drive, which was a new page in the history book of the German automobile industry.
In 1970 `Audi` starts exporting its cars on the US market. Audi 100 and Audi Super 90 were the first models to have seen the New World. The range of the models being exported was then expended. The models exported to the USA boasted of their own codes even: Audi 4000 (Audi 80) and Audi 5000 (Audi 100). However ten years later a sales downturn is observed as the manufacturer`s warranty was not once violated.
The 80ies brought some new ideas to the company`s model range. At first new all-wheel drive sports car caused a commotion during Genevan motor show, and then other models started to be provided with an all-wheel drive.
The 90ies are remarkable for the introduction of a whole series of` Audi` cars: Audi A4 (1994), Audi A8 (1998), Audi A3 (1997), Audi A6 (1998), and also some sports all-wheel drive modifications.
Nowadays `Audi`, being a part of `Volkswagen` concern, is on the peak of its success, which turned possible thanks to tireless work on new designs and their implementation.
