Audi was founded in 1909 by August Horch under the name Audiwerke GmbH. Originally a luxury builder, Audi would form the Auto Union in 1932 when it merged with three other German builders: Horch, DKW, and Wanderer. Audi’s four linked rings are representative of this merger. Under the Auto Union banner in the 1930s, they would dominate racing using designs by Ferdinand Porsche.
The Audi name was revived in 1964 when Volkswagen purchased the Auto Union and began using Audi as something of a luxury division. In 1980, Audi finished development of the Quattro all wheel drive system which would bring Audi back to the forefront of German automaking. Since then, Audi has developed some of the world’s most luxurious vehicles even as it dominates the highest tiers of racing - having won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 2000, 01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08 and 2009.