Key facts
- Years active
- 1932–1969
- Country
-
Germany - Headquarters
- Chemnitz, Germany
- Famous models
- 1000, 1000 Sp
The Auto Union logo is four interlocking grey rings in a row with the words AUTO UNION written across them. Auto Union was a German car group formed in 1932 from four makers, and it is the direct predecessor of Audi, which still uses the rings.
Auto Union Logo
A chain of four overlapping rings, drawn in light grey with a darker outline, forms the Auto Union symbol. The name AUTO UNION runs through the middle in outlined capital letters. This vintage Auto Union emblem stood for the group itself, and each ring represents one of the four founding marques: Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer.
On DKW cars the rings appeared as a badge below the green DKW shield on the front of the hood, so the Auto Union car logo was often seen together with the DKW mark. The page offers the Auto Union logo PNG with a transparent background.
What the Auto Union logo means
The Auto Union logo meaning is simple: the four rings symbolize the four companies that merged in 1932. Each ring is one marque, and the rings overlap to show them joined into a single group.
Auto Union Logo History
The first old Auto Union logo, from 1932, was the original design, with a separate emblem inside each of the four rings. These were the Audi figure with its triangle, the DKW shield, the Horch letter H and the winged Wanderer mark. Each marque kept its own sign, and the circles were set in a row.
The version shown here is a simpler Auto Union badge: it replaced the four small emblems with plain rings and the AUTO UNION lettering. It was used around 1932 to 1948. A version of the rings also exists in which some of them overlap and others interlock. The rings later became the logo of Audi.
Auto Union History
Auto Union AG was formed in 1932 as a merger of four German manufacturers and was established in 1936 in Chemnitz, Saxony. Besides acting as an umbrella firm for Audi, Horch, DKW and Wanderer, it ran a racing team whose Silver Arrows dominated Grand Prix racing from 1934 alongside Mercedes-Benz.
After World War II the company was nearly ruined. It was re-founded in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, in 1949 and built cars such as the Auto Union 1000. Volkswagen took it over in 1964, and in 1969 it merged with NSU Motorenwerke. The result became the modern Audi.
The company that carries the Auto Union name today, Auto Union GmbH, dates from 1985. It is a subsidiary of Audi AG that owns the historical trademarks and manages Audi’s heritage operations.
Auto Union Logo PNG
The download button at the top of this page saves the last Auto Union logo as a PNG file, 1000 × 356 pixels. Older versions from the history above open in the logo switcher under the main image, and each one has its own download.
| Shapes and motifs | Circles, Rings |
|---|---|
| Logo versions | 2, since 1932 |
| File | PNG, 1000 × 356 px |
Frequently asked questions
When was Auto Union founded?
Auto Union was founded in 1932.
What does the Auto Union logo mean?
The four overlapping rings of the Auto Union logo stand for the four companies that merged in 1932: Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer.
What country is Auto Union from?
Auto Union was a German car brand, based in Chemnitz, Germany.
Does Auto Union still exist?
No. Auto Union was active from 1932 to 1969.
Did Auto Union change its logo?
Yes. Auto Union used two logos since 1932. In order: Four rings with marque emblems (1932) and Four grey rings with AUTO UNION lettering (1932–1948).
What is on the Auto Union logo?
The last Auto Union logo features a circle and rings.
What cars did Auto Union make?
The best-known Auto Union models were the 1000 and 1000 Sp.
