Audi Presentation

The History of

Jordan “Nels” Alzate

The roots of Audi

1899 - The Horch company is established

On November 14, 1899, August Horch (1868 - 1951) established the company A. Horch & Cie. in the Ehrenfeld district of Cologne. Here he developed his first car, which was completed in early 1901.

1901 - The first Horch car is built

The first Horch car took to the road in 1901. It was an experimental car. That had a two-cylinder horizontal engine with an output of about 5 hp, and was designed with an additional small piston to absorb the vibrations of the crankshaft. August Horch referred to this as his "impact-free" engine. It also featured an alloy crankcase, a pioneering achievement in car manufacturing.

A fresh new start, “Audi” is born.• In 1909 August Horch had a disagreement with the supervisory board of A. Horch

& Cie. Motorwagen-Werke and as a result, Horch was forced out of the company he had founded. Shortly after, on July 16, 1909, he established a second company, Horch Automobil-Werke and continued using the Horch brand. However, his former partners sued him for trademark infringement. After some lengthy litigation, the final verdict was that the Horch brand belonged to his former company. August Horch was forced to refrain from using his family name in his new car business. His solution was to use the Latin translation of his name "AUDI" The new company name, Audiwerke GmbH, became effective on April 25, 1910.

1921 - 1921 - AudiAudi introducesintroduces left- left-hand drivehand drive

• In September 1921 Audi became the first In September 1921 Audi became the first car manufacturer to present a production car manufacturer to present a production car with left-hand drive, the Audi Type K. car with left-hand drive, the Audi Type K. Left-hand drive, which gave drivers a Left-hand drive, which gave drivers a better view of oncoming traffic and made better view of oncoming traffic and made passing safer, in particular, became the passing safer, in particular, became the prevailing standard by the end of the prevailing standard by the end of the 1920s.1920s.

History History of the Four Ringsof the Four Rings

• The Audi emblem of the four rings denotes one of Germany's oldest automobile manufacturers. It symbolizes the merger in 1932 of four previously independent motor vehicle manufacturers: Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer. These companies are the foundation stones on which the present-day AUDI is built.

1937 World record

• The Auto Union 16-cylinder streamliner The Auto Union 16-cylinder streamliner racing cars were high-tech products in racing cars were high-tech products in their time. They stood for supreme their time. They stood for supreme achievements in motor-vehicle achievements in motor-vehicle construction that concentrated above all construction that concentrated above all on high-performance engines, on high-performance engines, aerodynamic design, and the systematic aerodynamic design, and the systematic use of lightweight construction. The use of lightweight construction. The Auto Union car with streamlined fairing Auto Union car with streamlined fairing and an output of 545 horsepower was and an output of 545 horsepower was the first to exceed a speed of 400 the first to exceed a speed of 400 kilometers per hour on a normal road. kilometers per hour on a normal road.

1964 VW takes 1964 VW takes overover

• Volkswagenwerk AG acquired the majority of shares in Auto Union GmbH in December 1964 (effective January 1, 1965). Audi became a fully owned VW subsidiary at the end of 1966.

Audi’s "Never Follow" Audi’s "Never Follow" themetheme

• Never Follow - that Never Follow - that captures the captures the uncompromising spirit of uncompromising spirit of Audi design and Audi design and innovation. This campaign, innovation. This campaign, and the promise to Audi and the promise to Audi drivers, is built on the "five drivers, is built on the "five nevers": Never quit. Never nevers": Never quit. Never do the expected. Never do the expected. Never rest on your laurels. Never rest on your laurels. Never think great is good think great is good enough. NEVER FOLLOW. enough. NEVER FOLLOW. These principles will These principles will continue to lead Audi to continue to lead Audi to achieve excellence and be achieve excellence and be a leader in the automobile a leader in the automobile industry.industry.