Auto Union was an amalgamation of four German automobile manufacturers, established in 1932
in Zwickau, Saxony, during the Great Depression. The company has evolved into present day Audi,
as an independent subsidiary of Volkswagen Group.
The trademark of Auto Union was a symbol of four overlapping rings, symbolizing the four member
companies (all four in a line, in an attempt to avoid confusion with the 5 Olympic rings). The
trademarks and company names of the member companies - Horch, Audi, DKW and Wanderer - were
continued; the four ring logo was used only in racing. The four ring logo of Auto Union is
still a trademark, and now used by Audi. They continued to market the two-stroke engined DKW
brand until 1964.
Auto Union is best known for its racing team (Auto Union Rennabteilung, based in Zwickau),
which was the main opponent of Mercedes-Benz in 1930s Grand Prix motor racing. The Silver
Arrows of these two teams dominated not only GP car racing from 1934 onwards, but set records
that would take decades to beat. For example, the power levels of the unlimited 1937 models
were only equalled in the early 1980s by turbocharged Formula One Grand Prix cars...