What’s the Meaning Behind the Audi Logo?

by Audi Cary

The famous four rings explained

If you've ever wondered about the meaning behind the four rings of the Audi logo, you might have heard a number of theories. Perhaps they're related to the Olympic rings in some way? Or maybe they represent four tenets of the company? Audi Cary has heard all the different ideas, but we're here to give you the correct explanation, and it's a simple one, really: The rings speak to the heritage of the automaker.

The Auto Union

The four rings that make up the Audi logo represent the four original automakers that started it all, called the Auto Union. The first ring was for the original company in the union, a German auto manufacturer called Horch that was founded by German engineer August Horch, who soon left his own company to form a new auto company called Audi.

Interestingly, Horch's name is quite similar to the German word for "listen," and what does Audi mean in Latin? "Listen."

Horch (the company) and Audi represent the first two rings on the logo. The final two automakers are Wanderer, which was founded in 1911, and DKW, which wasn't an automaker but rather a steam engine manufacturer that eventually changed over to building cars.

Then things get complicated

That's the story behind the four rings, but that's not the end of the Audi story. Not by a long shot.

Auto Union faced financial troubles in the 1950s, and by 1958, the company was sold to Daimler-Benz. Hit by further financial problems, the company was sold again to Volkswagen in 1964. Soon after, it began selling cars under the name Audi. In 1969, Audi acquired another automaker, NSU. At that point, the company was called Audi NSU Auto Union AG. By 1985, that mouthful of a name was condensed to Audi AG. Today it’s simply Audi. (Thank goodness.)

Now that you know where Audi has been, come in today to see where Audi can take you in the future. Call, contact us online, or visit us in person at 600 Autopark Blvd, CARY, NC 27511 to schedule a test drive or learn more about our extensive Audi lineup.

Image Credi: Audi