If you look at the history of Audi, it's been a strange company. In 1909 it was founded by August Horch in addition to his original company. Employees to follow him into the new company, whose first name 'Horch' made a dispute necessary about right to a name. Latin language helped to translate it to 'audi'.

The company overcomes the first difficulties well, and sports achievements are even and especially at this time very important. Their problem is that their products are always in the shadows of the original Horch company. August Horch himself takes very much care at the company in the first few years, but then turns to national duties of the subject 'car'.

Maybe now not enough people watch out for the company. The economy is doing poorly, in Germany more than elsewhere in Europe. The banks force a merger and Audi threatens to be crushed inside the new called 'Auto Union' (DKW, Audi, Horch and Wanderer). Audi with the front wheel drive takes the newest technology from DKW over to the middle class.

In the Nazi-regime the German car manufacturers are promoted with tax advantages and extensive subsidies. The 'Silberpfeile' of both Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union become world famous and Audi can develop into a respectable manufacturer of models between medium and upper-class. It ends, however, with breakout of the Second World War.

After the war Audi, Horch and Wanderer remain disappeared, because the vast majority of production were in the East of Germany, now occupied by Russia. DKW still only represents the colors of the Auto Union. Despite of all other progress the company unfortunately keeps trusting on two-stroke engines. After early success the firm gets to bankruptcy. It is first bougth by Mercedes-Benz as unloved daughter. After all, here is created a for that time modern four-stroke engine.

Then VW takes Auto Union (DKW) over together with the four rings choosing 'Audi' as name for the new subsidiary. No, at first, Audi is probably not as a competitor in the luxury class provided. It has to fight much about its opportunities within the Group, but also turns out to be technically quite innovative.

In contrast to the parent VW, which suffers from old fashion products. The result is a huge transfer of technology. A lot of people move from Ingolstadt to Wolfburg, for example three Chief Executive Officer. Sometimes even the mother takes something away and then claimed it as their own invention, for example the fabulous direct diesel injection for cars.

But in Bavaria, they have more than one idea and the potential to put it into mass production. This begins with the five-cylinder gasoline engine, includes a small revolution of the permanent four-wheel drive and the aluminum technology. The daughter is becoming a sister, even gets with Lamborghini its own daughter and becomes second best seller in the upper class. Only BMW seems to be uncatchable. 01/12