1899

August Horch establishes the company August Horch & Cie in Cologne.

1901

The first Horch automobile is built.

1902

August Horch & Cie Motor- und Motorwagenbau is established in Reichenbach im Vogtland on March 3.

1909

Following a quarrel with the Supervisory Board, August Horch leaves August Horch Motorwagenwerke AG, which had been based in Zwickau since 1904, and founds a new company, also in Zwickau. He chooses the Latin translation of his surname as the name of the new company: Horch (“hark”) thus becomes Audi.

1921

Audi is the first car manufacturer in Germany to introduce left-hand drive and central gear change as a standard.

1931

The world’s first volume-produced car with front-wheel drive is introduced: the DKW Front (F1).

1932

The carmakers Audi, DKW and Horch in Saxony and the automobile division of Wanderer‑Werke merge to form Auto Union AG, based in Chemnitz. The company chooses four interlinked rings as its logo.

1945

Auto Union AG in Saxony is seized by the Soviet occupying forces and the factories are dismantled. A few months after the war, a central depot for Auto Union parts is set up in Ingolstadt to supply the vehicles traveling in the Western zones.

1948

Auto Union AG is removed from the commercial register in the city of Chemnitz.

1949

The newly established Auto Union GmbH is entered in the commercial register of the city of Ingolstadt. Production of the DKW RT 125 W motorcycle and the DKW F 89 L high-speed van commences in former garrison buildings.

1958

Auto Union GmbH is acquired by Daimler‑Benz AG.

1959

The first DKW Junior is produced at the new plant in Ingolstadt.

1964

The majority of shares in Auto Union GmbH are acquired by Volkswagenwerk AG in December.

1965

The first postwar Audi comes from Ingolstadt.

Production of the DKW models is gradually discontinued.

1966

Auto Union GmbH becomes a fully owned VW subsidiary.

1969

Merger of Auto Union GmbH and NSU Motorenwerke AG create Audi NSU Auto Union AG with headquarters in Neckarsulm

1971

“Vorsprung durch Technik” becomes Audi’s striking advertising slogan.

1980

Audi quattro: The first production car with permanent all-wheel drive is presented in Geneva.

1982

The third generation of the Audi 100, the world’s most aerodynamic production sedan, causes a sensation with the world’s best coefficient of drag of 0.30.

1985

Company renamed AUDI AG with headquarters in Ingolstadt; product and company have borne the same name ever since.

1986

The third generation of the Audi 80 excels with outstanding aerodynamics and a fully galvanized body.

1988

On August 13, AUDI AG and First Automotive Works (FAW) sign the contracts for the production of the Audi 100 under license in Changchun, northern China.

1990

Audi presents the Audi duo, a hybrid model based on the Audi 100 Avant quattro.

1993

Establishment of AUDI HUNGARIA MOTOR Kft. in Győr (Hungary) as a fully owned subsidiary of AUDI AG. The plant is officially opened on October 12, 1994.

1994

Audi makes a quantum leap in automotive engineering with the market launch of the Audi A8, featuring the revolutionary aluminum Audi Space Frame (ASF).

1995

Audi becomes a ten-percent stakeholder in the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture established in 1991. Volkswagen holds 30 percent, FAW 60 percent.

1998

A contract for the acquisition of Lamborghini is signed on July 24.

2000

Audi Forum Ingolstadt (Audi museum mobile, restaurant, art house cinema).

2005

Audi Forum Neckarsulm.

2007

Audi increases its number of sites. The production of Audi models starts in Brussels (Belgium) and Aurangabad (India).

2008

Audi passes the mark of one million vehicles sold for the first time in its history with 1,003,469 vehicles delivered to customers.

2009

The Audi brand celebrates its 100th anniversary on July 16.

2011

In the spring, Audi starts producing the Audi Q3 at the SEAT site in Martorell (Spain).

2012

Audi acquires the tradition-steeped Italian manufacturer of sports motorcycles Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A., which has its registered office in Bologna.

2013

Official opening of the new car plant with a full process chain in Győr (Hungary). AUDI HUNGARIA MOTOR Kft. now produces engines and automobiles.

Audi production facility in Münchsmünster near Ingolstadt:

Second FAW-VW and Audi plant in Foshan, southern China.

2014

Audi Neuburg: Audi driving experience, Competence Center Motorsport/Audi Sport and Audi Sport customer racing.

Böllinger Höfe in Neckarsulm site, Logistics Center and Audi R8 production.

2015

IN‑Campus: Acquisition of former refinery site in Ingolstadt.

New Brazilian production location in Curitiba in the state of Paraná.

2016

Audi transmission plant in Tianjin.

New automobile plant in San José Chiapa (Mexico), production of the Audi Q5.

2017

Production and logistics hall at the Logistics Center in Ingolstadt.

New Design Center in Ingolstadt.

Fuel Cell competence center in Neckarsulm.

2018

World premiere and start of production of the fully electric Audi e-tron.

Electric motor production in Győr (Hungary).

Market launch of new product line, Audi Q8.

Groundbreaking for “Ingolstadt Audi” train stop.

Remediation/start of construction on the IN‑Campus for a technology park

Materials technical center for lightweight body design in Neckarsulm.

New Audi site in Relizane, Algeria (northern Africa).

30-year anniversary of Audi in China.

Audi in Mexico becomes wastewater-free; Audi in Belgium becomes CO₂-neutral.