Audi celebrates 70 years at Ingolstadt with three exhibitions

September 3, 1949, marks an important date in the history of Audi. The founding of Auto Union GmbH in Ingolstadt on that day launched a new chapter in the history of the automobile manufacturer, which had previously been based in Germany's federal state of Saxony. Four years after the end of the war, the company commenced production in old buildings of the former Ingolstadt fortress. This was the start of a success story for both the car manufacturer and Ingolstadt.

With the first exhibit, named 'W49', Audi takes a very special look back on the connection between the company and the city. '49' stands for the year it all began, with 'W' originally meaning 'West' and distinguished the first motorcycle built in Ingolstadt from those built in the East. The small company then named Auto Union GmbH has since evolved into a premium manufacturer of automobiles with worldwide operations, and the small provincial town has developed into a dynamic and economically strong city - Audi and Ingolstadt.

The new temporary exhibition shows the company's first ten years in Ingolstadt from 1949 to 1959, and quite deliberately in a double sense - the images allow the visitor to change perspective, offering a view through 'Audi glasses' as well as from the viewpoint of the city.

Audi is exhibiting the first products of the newly founded Auto Union GmbH, including the DKW Schnelllaster and the DKW RT 125 W motorcycle, as well as other important models from the early automotive production. The exhibition also examines the underlying conditions in the company's new home, from the political restart with a young democracy and the refugees of the day to daily life and the reconstruction in Ingolstadt.

The second exhibition in the building, 'Market and Customer A51', focuses on the milestones and highlights of the Ingolstadt site from the end of the 1950s to today. A series of pictures here shows how the Audi logo has changed over time. They symbolise the brands Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer.

The journey through time includes important models like the DKW Junior de Luxe, the rebirth of Audi in 1965, and the absolute bestsellers for the site - the Audi 80 and Audi A4. The legendary quattro drive is also given its due in this special exhibition.

The third exhibition lies in the Audi Piazza, wherein the company is presenting a preview of future investments for Ingolstadt. Among other things, the new 'Ingolstadt Audi' train stop and the IN-Campus are being presented. The train stop, which will be Ingolstadt's third train station, is due to open in December 2019. The new central platform will feature a barrier-free connection to both the Audi plant and the public transport network. Meanwhile, the IN-Campus is being built in the east of Ingolstadt. A joint venture between Audi AG and the city of Ingolstadt, a former oil refinery is being refurbished and converted into a technology park.