Audi
The Audi AG is a German car manufacturer that designs, manufactures, engineers, markets and distributes automobiles. The Audi oversees worldwide operations from its headquarters in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. Audi brand are produced in nine production facilities worldwide. Audi has been a majority stake (99.55%) subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group since 1966, following the phased purchase of Audi AG predecessor, Auto Union, Daimler-Benz. The Volkswagen relaunched the Audi brand with the 1965 introduction of the Audi F103 series.
The company name is based on the Latin translation of the surname of the founder August Horch. “Horch”, which means “listen” in German, becomes “Audi” in Latin. The four rings of the Audi logo represent each of the four car companies that banded together to create the predecessor company of Audi, Auto Union. Audi’s slogan is Vorsprung durch Technik, meaning “Progress through Technology”. Recently in United States, Audi has updated the motto of “Truth in Engineering.” Audi is a member of the automakers’ German Big 3 “luxury together with BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which are 3 best selling luxury car in the world Originally, in 1885, the automobile company was established Wanderer, then became a branch of Audi AG. The Another company, NSU, which also later merged with Audi, was founded during this time, and later supplied the four-wheel chassis Gottlieb Daimler.
On 14 November 1899, August Horch (1868-1951) established the company A. Horch & Cie., In Ehrenfeld district of Cologne. Three years later, in 1902 he moved with his company to Reichenbach im Vogtland. In May, 10, 1904, he founded August Horch & Cie. Motorwagenwerke AG, a corporation in Zwickau. After troubles with Horch chief financial officer, August Horch left the Motorwagenwerke and founded in Zwickau on July 16, 1909, his second company, August Horch Automobilwerke GmbH. His former teammates sued for trademark violation. The German Reichsgericht (Supreme Court) in Leipzig, finally determined that the Horch brand belonged to his former company.
Audi Technology
Audi produces 100% galvanized cars to prevefial officer, August Horch left as first mass-market vehicle to do so, following introduction of process by Porsche, c. 1975 Along with other precautionary measures, the zinc coating full body has proven very effective in preventing oxidation. Durability resulting body even surpassed Audi’s own expectations, causing the manufacturer to extend its original 10-year warranty against corrosion perforation to currently 12 years.
Audi introduced a new series of vehicles in the mid-1990s and continues to new technology and high performance. A car full aluminum stepped forward by the Audi, and in 1994 the Audi A8 was launched, which introduced the technology of aluminum space frame which saves weight and improves torsion rigidity compared to conventional steel frame. Beforef to that effort, Audi used examples of the Type 44 chassis made of aluminum as test-beds for the technique. The disadvantage of the aluminum frame is that it is very expensive to repair and requires a specialized aluminum workshop.
In all subsequent Volkswagen-era models, Audi has firmly refused to adopt traditional rear-wheel drive layout favored by its two big rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW, favoring either the front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Most of the Audi lineup in the United States features all wheel drive standard on most of its expensive vehicles, in contrast to Mercedes Benz and BMW whose training is all-wheel drive as an option. BMW does not offer all the wheels of their cars with V8 engine until the 2010 BMW 7 Series and 2011 BMW 5 Series, while Audi A8 has had all-wheel drive available / standard since the early 1990 regarding high-performance variants, Audi S models and RS have always had all-wheel drive, unlike their direct rivals from the BMW M and Mercedes-AMG whose cars are rear wheel drive only. Audi has recently applied the quattro badge to models such as the Audi A3 and Audi TT which do not use the Torsen-based as in previous years with a mechanical center differential system, but with AWD Haldex Traction electro-mechanical clutch.
Audi Technology Electric Vehicles
Audi is planning an alliance with the Japanese electronic giant Sanyo to develop a pilot hybrid electric for the Volkswagen Group. Alliance could result in Sanyo batteries and other electronic components being used in future models of the Volkswagen Group. Concept electric cars announced to date include the Audi A1 Sportback Concept, Audi A4 TDI Concept E, and all-electric Audi e-tron Concept Supercar.
Audi Marketing Motorsport
Audi has competed in various forms of motorsports. Audi tradition in motorsport began with their former company Auto Union in 1930 In the 1990s, Audi found success in the Touring and Super Touring categories of motor racing after success in circuit racing in North America. In 1980, Audi released the Audi Quattro, one four-wheel drive (4WD) turbocharged car that went on to win rallies and races worldwide. It is considered one of the cars most important rally of all time, as it was one of the first to take advantage of the rules then recently changed allowing the use of traction to all four wheels in racing competition. Many critics doubted the viability of runners traction on all four wheels, because I thought it was too heavy and complex, yet the Quattro was to become a successful car. Leading its first rally it went off the road, note however the rally world had been served 4WD was the future. The Quattro went on to achieve great success in the World Rally Championship. He won the 1983 and drivers 1984 ‘titles, and brought Audi the manufacturers title in 1982 and 1984.
In the 2005 24 Hours of Le Mans, Champion Racing entered 2 R8s along with an Audi R8 from the Audi PlayStation Team Oreca. The R8s (which were built to old LMP900 regulations) received a narrower air inlet restrictor, reducing power, an additional 50 kg (110 lb) in weight compared to the newer LMP1 chassis. On average, Acura R8s were about 2-3 seconds of pace compared to the Pescarolo-Judd. But with the team of excellent drivers and experience, both Champion R8s were able to take first and third, while ORECA team took fourth. Champion team was also the first American team to win Le Mans since the Gulf Ford GT in 1967 This also ends the long era of the R8; However, its replacement in 2006, called the Audi R10 TDI, was unveiled on December 13, 2005.
Audi Marketing
The Audi emblem is four overlapping rings that represent the four brands of Auto Union. The Audi emblem symbolizes the fusion of Audi with DKW, Horch and Wanderer: the first ring on the left represents Audi, 2nd represents DKW, third is Horch, and the fourth and final Wanderer ring Its similarity to . Olympic rings caused the International Olympic Committee to sue Audi in International Trademark Court in 1995, to those who are perishing. As part of Audi’s centennial celebration in 2009, company updated Audi logo, changing the font to left-aligned Audi Type, and altering fshading for the overlapping rings. The revised Audi logo was designed by Rayan Abdullah.
Audi has developed a concept of Corporate sound with Audi Sound Studio Corporate designed to produce sound. The Sound Corporate project began with the sound Klanger finder agency GmbH & Co KG and GmbH s12. The audio samples were created in the studio sound Klanger finder in Stuttgart, becoming part of the Audi Sound Studio Collection. Other components include Audi Sound Studio Music Pool The Brand, Brand Voice. Toolkit Audi Sound Branding also developed including certain instruments, sound themes, rhythm and the car seems everything is supposed to reflect the character of the sound AUDI.
Audi AG Today
Audi’s sales grew strongly in the 2000s, with deliveries to customers increased from 653,000 in 2000 to 1,003,000 in 2008 The largest sales increases came from Eastern Europe (+19.3%), Africa (+ 17.2%) and the Middle East (+ 58.5%). In particular, China has become a key market, representing 108,000 of 705,000 cars delivered in the first three quarters of 2009 One factor for its popularity in China is that Audi have become the vehicle of choice for buying by the Chinese government for officials, and purchases by the government are responsible for 20% of its sales in China. in late 2009, Audi’s operating profit of € 1.17 million ($ 1.85 million) made it the biggest contributor to nine months operating income parent Volkswagen Group of € 1.5 million , while the other group brands, such as Bentley and Seat have suffered substantial losses.
May 2011 saw record sales for Audi of America with the new Audi A7 and Audi A3 TDI Clean Diesel. In May 2012, Audi reported a 10% increase in sales-from 408 units to 480 in the past year. Audi produces vehicles in seven plants around the world, some of which are shared with other VW Group brands although many subsets such as engines and transmissions are manufactured in other plants of the Volkswagen Group. In September 2012, Audi announced the construction of its first manufacturing plant in North America in Puebla, Mexico. Plant is expected to be operational in 2016 and produce the second generation Audi Q5.
From 2002 to 2003, Audi headed the Audi Brand Group, a subdivision of the Automotive Division of Volkswagen Group comprising Audi, SEAT and Lamborghini, that focuses on sporting values, product vehicles and performance marques’ being under the higher responsibility of the Audi brand. Audi UK in 2014 falsely claimed that the Audi A7, Audi A8 and Audi R8 were the Euro NCAP safety test by achieving five out of five stars.
