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AUDI

Audi is an automobile manufacturer based in Germany and owned by fellow German carmaker Volkswagen.

With a focus on the luxury market, Audi vehicles are considered to be high-end and their models are consistently listed among the best selling luxury cars globally. Audi was founded in 1932 and today operates manufacturing plants in several countries around the world.

Like many companies involved in manufacturing and industrial production during World War 2, Audi’s facilities (which at that time were operating under the company’s previous name, Auto Union) were appropriated for weapons production and then ultimately dismantled until political conflicts were settled after the war. By 1949, Audi was once again producing cars.

With a growing reputation for technological innovation and racing success, Audi spent the 1990s releasing cars that were designed and marketed to compete with other luxury sedans, but did not experience robust sales growth until the 2000s.

Audi has been an innovator in several areas of design; for example, the company was the first to mass-produce a vehicle that includes proactive elements to prevent rusting, using a special zinc coat to protect the body from deterioration.

In 2015, all Audi models are known by their simple letter/number combination model names, such as the A3, A4, A8 and so on. New safety features active-lane assist and secondary collision assist are included with certain models, and a variety of body and aesthetic upgrades are available for customers willing to pay premium prices. Titanium rims, a special Black Optics package, night vision assist and a cutting-edge navigation system are also on the menu.

Audi continues to be a strong presence in the racing and rally worlds, where the brand is respected and celebrated among enthusiasts. The Audi brand depends on this recognition to remain in the good graces of consumers, who have come to expect exceptional performance and high quality standards from the automaker. Judging by their continued design improvements and customer-friendly aesthetic innovations, Audi is likely to remain a powerful force in the luxury automobile market for the foreseeable future.