August Horch

August Horch was a smart builder.

He first worked with iron. Later, he learned to build ships. He began to make cars in a land called Germany.

He started his own car company. He built his first car in 1901. One of his cars won a big race. Later, he had to use a new name. He chose the name Audi. This name came from his own name. He helped start a group called Auto Union. His work helped make the cars we see today.

August Horch was a famous engineer from Germany.

He first worked as a blacksmith. A blacksmith is a person who works with iron. Later, he studied engineering. He used his skills to build ships. In 1896, he worked for Karl Benz. Then, he started his own car company.

His first car was built in 1901. One of his cars even won a race in 1906. Later, Horch had a legal fight with his old partners. A court said he could not use his own name for his cars. Because of this, he needed a new name. He chose the name Audi. Audi is the Latin version of his name, Horch.

He helped lead a group called Auto Union. He also wrote a book about his life in 1937. He lived until 1951. Many places have streets named after him today. His work helped start the big company we know as Audi.

August Horch was a famous German engineer. He helped start the car industry.

He was born in Winningen in 1868. He began his career as a blacksmith. Later, he studied at Mittweida Technical College. He earned an engineering degree after his studies. He even worked in shipbuilding for a time.

Horch learned a lot from working with Karl Benz. He started his own firm in 1899. This company was called A. Horch & Co.

They built their first car in 1901. The company moved to Reichenbach in 1902. They moved again to Zwickau in 1904. One car won the Herkomer Trial in 1906. Rudolf Stoess drove that winning car.

Things changed for Horch in 1909. He had a dispute with his old partners. He left the company to start a new one. He first called it Horch Automobil-Werke GmbH. A court then made a big decision. They said the name Horch was a trademark. His former partners owned the rights to it.

Horch could not use his own name anymore.

He had to find a new name for his cars. In 1910, he chose the name Audi. Audi is the Latin version of his name.

He left Audi in 1920 to work in Berlin. He later joined the board of Auto Union. Auto Union was the successor to his Audi company. He also wrote his life story in 1937. The book was titled "I Built Cars."

Horch stayed an honorary executive at Auto Union. This happened after the company moved to Ingolstadt. He lived until February 3, 1951. Many places honor him today. Zwickau named him an honorary citizen. There is an August Horchstrasse at the Audi plant. You can find streets named for him in Winningen too. His work helped build the world of cars.

August Horch was a highly influential German engineer and automobile pioneer. He is best known as the founder of the manufacturing giant that eventually became Audi. His work helped shape the early history of the automotive industry.

Through his technical skills, he helped move vehicle manufacturing from a new idea into a massive global industry.

Horch's journey into engineering began with practical and academic training. He was born in Winningen, Rhenish Prussia, on October 12, 1868. He started his professional life working as a blacksmith. Later, he pursued formal education at Mittweida Technical College. After earning an engineering degree, he worked in the shipbuilding industry. He also gained valuable experience working for Karl Benz starting in 1896.

In November 1899, Horch established his own company, A. Horch & Co. This firm was located in Ehrenfeld, Cologne, Germany. The company produced its first automobile in 1901. As the business grew, it moved to Reichenbach in 1902. By 1904, the company had relocated again to Zwickau.

One of these early vehicles achieved great success in 1906. A driver named Rudolf Stoess drove a Horch to victory in the Herkomer Trial.

In 1909, a major dispute caused Horch to leave his original company. He moved to Zwickau to start a competing firm. He initially named this new business Horch Automobil-Werke GmbH. However, a legal conflict arose regarding the use of his name. A court ruled that "Horch" was a registered trademark. The trademark belonged to his former partners. Consequently, August Horch was not allowed to use his own name for his new cars.

To solve this problem, Horch created a new brand in 1910. He founded Audi Automobilwerke GmbH. He chose the name "Audi" by using the Latinization of his own name, Horch.

This clever naming process allowed him to continue his work in the automotive field. He eventually left Audi in 1920 to take various jobs in Berlin. Later, he served on the board of Auto Union. Auto Union was the successor to the Audi company he had founded.

Horch remained involved in the industry throughout his later years. He published his autobiography, titled "I Built Cars," in 1937. He also served as an honorary executive at Auto Union. This role continued after the company reincorporated in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, during the late 1940s. He lived until February 3, 1951. He did not live to see the Audi brand resurrected a decade later under Volkswagen ownership.

Today, the legacy of August Horch is recognized in many ways. He was named an honorary citizen of Zwickau. He was also an honorary professor at the Braunschweig University of Technology. Several locations honor his memory with specific names. There is an August Horchstrasse at the main Audi manufacturing plant in Ingolstadt. Streets named for him also exist in Zwickau and his birthplace of Winningen.