Audi AG, also known as Audi, is a German luxury car manufacturer with headquarters in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. Its German pronunciation is [adi ae](listen). In nine manufacturing plants across the world, Audi produces automobiles as a division of its parent business, the Volkswagen Group.
August Horch, an engineer, formed the first businesses in the early 20th century, including Horch and the Audiwerke, as well as two additional manufacturers, DKW and Wanderer, which eventually led to the founding of Auto Union in 1932. In the 1960s, Volkswagen purchased Auto Union from Daimler-Benz, ushering in the contemporary Audi era. [9] Volkswagen combined Auto Union and NSU Motorenwerke in 1969, reintroducing the Audi brand with the 1965 release of the Audi F103 series and giving the business its current structure.
The Latin translation of the founder’s last name, August Horch, served as the inspiration for the firm name. Horch, which in German means “listen,” becomes audi in Latin. The four rings of the Audi logo each stand for one of the four automakers that joined together to establish Auto Union, the firm that preceded Audi. Vorsprung durch Technik, or “Being Ahead via Technology,” is Audi’s catchphrase. [10] One of the most popular luxury car brands worldwide is Audi, which is also sold by rival German automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz. [11]
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Is Audi a German or French brand?
German automaker AUDI AG makes vehicles under the Audi brand. The Volkswagen Group includes it. The Latinized version of founder August Horch’s last name, which is the German word for “listen,” served as the inspiration for the name Audi. Germany’s Ingolstadt serves as the home base for Audi.
August Horch, a pioneer in the automobile industry, established August Horch Automobilwerke GmbH in Germany on July 16, 1909. A short while later, he changed the company’s name to Audi Automobilwerke, the Latin version of his last name.
To become Auto Union AG in 1932, Audi merged with Horch, DKW, and Wanderer. The brands Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer are represented by the four rings of the Audi logo. The four interconnected rings were a unique feature of Auto Union AG’s racing cars prior to World War II. The names and logos of the member companies were used.
On September 3rd, 1949, Auto Union GmbH was founded in Ingolstadt after a series of adjustments as WWII drew to a close.
On April 24, 1958, Daimler-Benz AG purchased the bulk of Auto Union GmbH’s shares, followed by the remaining ones. Auto Union was a wholly owned subsidiary of the Stuttgart-based Daimler Group from this day until the end of 1965.
Of December 1964, Volkswagenwerk AG bought the bulk of the stock in Auto Union GmbH; towards the end of 1966, Audi became a fully owned VW subsidiary.
The newly acquired NSU Motorenwerke AG by VW and the Ingolstadt-based Auto Union GmbH amalgamated to establish Audi NSU Auto Union AG in March 1969.
A four-wheel-drive sports coup was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1980. The first four-wheel-drive high-performance car was the Audi Quattro. Only trucks and off-road vehicles had previously utilised this drive concept. The Audi Quattro’s permanent all-wheel-drive technology was an international racing sensation that eventually made its way into the full lineup of Audi vehicles.
Audi NSU Auto Union AG changed its name to AUDI AG in January 1985. The business also relocated its headquarters from Ingolstadt at the same time. From that point on, both the firm and the cars shared the same name.
Audi: A French automobile?
Sports car design is Audi’s area of expertise as a German automaker. This Volkswagen Group business has operations throughout a number of nations. The quantity of passenger automobiles sold under the Audi brand in France has changed significantly during the past ten years. The brand sold 50,083 automobiles in 2021, a rise of almost 10% from the year before.
What country does Audi hail from?
Four rings, four brands, 1932 Four interlocking rings represented the joining of four Saxony-based automakers: Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer to form Auto Union AG. Here are some quick facts about the history of the current AUDI AG.
Is BMW a German company?
If you’ve ever wondered if a BMW is a foreign vehicle, then yes. You’re not by yourself, for sure. Where is BMW produced? Although the name of the company, Bayerische Motoren Werke, indicates its German heritage, not every car in the lineup is made in Germany.
Is Audi superior to BMW?
It’s difficult to predict who will win the Audi vs. BMW competition. The same target market is being courted by both producers, but they focus on distinct specifications and features.
When it comes to technology and style, Audi is the winner, but BMW offers a smoother, sportier driving experience. When it comes to safety features, both brands score highly, however Audi has far lower reliability ratings. Although there isn’t much of a difference in price between the two, Audi’s reliability difficulties are evident in the price of repairs.
In the end, they are both fairly similar automobile makers with comparable models that appeal to slightly different demographics. Choose a BMW if you want a sporty, controlled ride. Choose an Audi if you want something with understated style and cutting-edge technology.
We can help if you’re interested in a certain Audi or BMW model. We’ve written a number of thorough comparative pages on particular models, including:
What makes an automobile French?
Citron (pronounced sih-tro-n), Peugeot (puh-joh), and Renault are the three largest French automakers (ruh-no). These vehicles are ubiquitous in France, so I thought I’d write a post about them. France has some amazing automobiles. Let’s examine the well-known French automakers in more detail.
Citron
The dual chevron on the front of Citron vehicles makes them easy to identify as the first French automaker we’ll talk about.
After World War 1 ended in 1919, French manufacturer Andr-Gustave Citron founded Citron because his companies were unable to produce anything. The first mass-production vehicle firm outside of the US was founded as a result of this initiative. The idea of developing a network of sales and services to support the automobile was invented by Citron.
Eight years later, Citron was the fourth-biggest automaker in the world and the largest in Europe. By 1955, the 2CV had established itself as a French symbol.
Citron now manufactures a small number of cars, vans, SUVs, EVs, and different utility vehicles. Citron offers youthful, sporty, tiny automobiles at the lower end of their model portfolio that are geared toward youngsters. However, as the price increases over $13,000, their cars start to target a more mature market. The Citron C3 and C4 are two of their most well-known vehicles:
Even Citron has its own high-end brand: “DS. The French word for this is desee (day-ess), and it is pronounced “goddess. In order to compete with German luxury, the DS brand is positioned to offer opulent, expensive vehicles.
Renault
Renault is the second automaker, and its logo is a diamond. The automakers Dacia and Lada are also owned by Renault.
The compact and agile Renault Twingo or the slightly roomier Renault Clio are popular models in their lineup. The Renault Megane, Renault Captur, Renault Talisman, and a Espace van are additional well-liked automobiles. Even a pick-up vehicle known as the “Alaskan” is available.
Need more? Here is a fantastic movie with subtitles where one of the designers discusses the Renault Talisman’s design. One of Renault’s sedans, starting at 28,700 but configurable to 39,800, is this one.
Peugeot
The last French company we’ll discuss today is Peugeot, which is pronounced “puh-joh,” but even though it’s last, its importance to the French automotive industry is undiminished.
The Peugeot brand dates back to 1896 when Armand Peugeot founded the company in France. Since then, Peugeot has won numerous awards, produced military equipment during World War 2, and even has a history in the racing world. Today, the company offers electric vehicles, utility vehicles, SUVs, RVs, family cars, and hatchbacks.
The Peugeot 208 and 308 are the brand’s top-selling models, and they were in high demand in 2017. The Peugeot brand is recognized by the lion insignia.
Here is a review of the Peugeot 308 in French for those who want to go the extra mile:
Conclusion
French brands like Alpine and Bugatti were not included in this list of French automakers. The list does, however, assist those who are interested in French culture in becoming familiar with the French products themselves.
Do French vehicles exist?
Based on the date the company was founded, which was 1810, Peugeot is one of the oldest automobile manufacturers in the world. But the company didn’t start out making cars; in 1810, it was a steel foundry that made band saws, coffee grinders, and umbrella frames.
The company was started by brothers Jean-Pierre and Jean-Frdric Peugeot, who gained economic knowledge from their father, who in his lifetime owned a weaving company, a dye shop, an oil mill, and a grain mill.
Peugeot developed their first automobile in 1889, making it the second-oldest automaker and the longest-running auto brand in history. Peugeot has been employing its recognizable numbered names, such as the original 201 or the current 308, since 1929.
Peugeots are easily recognized thanks to their recognizable lion badging. Although there have been many changes since it was first released in 1947, we can easily recognize a Peugeot by its lion logo and the roar of its engine.
Today, Peugeot is the marquee brand for the PSA Groupe, which also owns the Citron, DS, and Vauxhall-Opel automobile brands.
Peugeot has experienced considerable success in many types of motor racing, including Le Mans and rally, and it still participates today.
Peugeot currently offers a variety of affordable and useful options, ranging from the 108 hatchback to the 5008 SUV. View all of our offerings for them right here.
How German is Volvo?
Although it was claimed that Volkswagen, a German automaker, would take over when Volvo Cars went on sale, Volvo Cars is a Swedish-made brand.
Who founded BMW?
Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH, or the Bavarian Engine Works Company, is what the abbreviation BMW stands for. The corporation was founded in the German state of Bavaria, hence the name. It also represents the original BMW product line, which included engines for diverse uses.
Who manufactures BMWs?
Did you know that BMW, which stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft and means Bavarian Motor Works, is an acronym? According to the AG, it is a corporation with shareholder ownership. More than 120,000 people are employed by the BMW Group, which currently runs 31 production and assembly plants across 15 nations.