History of the Ingolstadt Site

The heart of the Audi Group beats at the Ingolstadt site. The founding of Auto Union GmbH in Ingolstadt 66 years ago started a new chapter in the history of the automobile manufacturer, which was previously based in Germany’s federal state of Saxony. In buildings of the former Ingolstadt Fort, the company started to produce spare parts, motorcycles and DKW vehicles. In 1985, Auto Union GmbH became AUDI AG; since then, the company and its products have had the same name.

1945	Auto Union’s spare parts depot opens in Ingolstadt on December 3. It is located in the former central military provisions supply office at Schrannenstrasse 3.
1946	The central depot in the armory at Unterer Graben is converted for the production of replacement parts.
1948	In August, the “old” Auto Union is removed from the commercial register in Chemnitz. In Ingolstadt, work begins on the development of a delivery van and the production of new design drawings for the prewar DKW RT 125 motorcycle.
1949	On September 3, Auto Union GmbH is established in Ingolstadt as a production company, once again at Schrannenstrasse 3. Production of the DKW high-speed van and the DKW RT 125 W motorcycle begins that same year.
1950	Production of the first postwar DKW car begins in April at a new plant in Düsseldorf. All DKW passenger cars are built in Düsseldorf until 1958.
1953	Auto Union leases the Friedenskaserne barracks on the Esplanade and surrounding land on Dreizehnerstrasse. The public refer to the buildings as a “conglomeration of huts.”
1954	Commissioning of the newly constructed motorcycle plant on the Esplanade, the first major new building project in the postwar period.
1958	On April 24, Daimler-Benz AG responds to a proposal from industrial magnate Friedrich Flick and acquires a majority stake in Auto Union. The Ingolstadt company remains a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler-Benz AG until the end of 1964. In July, the foundation stone is laid for a new automobile plant on Ettinger Strasse just outside the city. Motorcycle production is discontinued at the end of the year.
1959	On August 20, the first DKW Junior is built at the new plant.
1962	The Düsseldorf facilities are sold to Daimler-Benz AG in June. Vehicle production is concentrated in Ingolstadt.
1964	In December, Volkswagenwerk AG responds to another proposal from Flick and acquires a majority share in Auto Union from Daimler-Benz AG. The Ingolstadt company has been a wholly owned subsidiary of VW since the end of 1966.
1965	The first postwar Audi leaves the assembly line. Production of the DKW models is gradually discontinued.
1968	Second phase of expansion of the plant facilities. Expansion of both factory and offices.
1969	Start of construction of the Technical Development division on the site of the former Max Emanuel Fort in Ingolstadt. Under the guidance of Volkswagenwerk AG, Auto Union GmbH and NSU Motorenwerke AG are merged to create NSU Auto Union AG, with its headquarters in Neckarsulm.
1972	The Audi 80 is launched – a bestseller made in Ingolstadt.
1980	Production of the Audi quattro begins in Ingolstadt.
1985	Auto Union GmbH is renamed as AUDI AG on January 1; its headquarters are relocated from Neckarsulm to Ingolstadt. From that point onwards, products and company bear the same name.
1992	The Audi Customer Center is opened.
1995	Construction of Logistics Center 1 begins in Ingolstadt.
1998	Inauguration of the new paint shop.
1999	Inauguration of the Wind Tunnel Center. Opening of the Market and Customer building.
2000	Inauguration of the new Audi Forum Ingolstadt (Customer Center, Audi museum mobile, independent cinema, gastronomy).
2009	Centenary of the Audi brand. 60th anniversary of the main site in Ingolstadt.
2010	Inauguration of the Development and Test Center for Electric Drive Systems (Technical Development). Inauguration of the expanded Logistics Center.
2011	10 millionth automobile of the Audi 80/Audi A4 series.
2012	Commissioning of the Audi A3 body shop; Opening of SE Forum/Data Center (Technical Development).
2013	Opening of the new plant in Münchsmünster near Audi’s Ingolstadt site: competence center for the production of structural body parts made of die-cast aluminum, hot- and cold-formed pressed parts, and suspension components.
2014	Opening of Audi Neuburg: Audi driving experience and Competence Center Motorsport/Audi Sport. Production jubilee 20 years of the Audi A4 at the Ingolstadt site: With more than six million cars sold, the Audi A4 is the most successful Audi-model of all time.