Auto Union (Germany) - AllCarIndex

Auto Union AG was a German automotive manufacturer founded in 1932 through the merger of four established brands: Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer. The company was headquartered in Ingolstadt, Germany. Initially, Auto Union focused on producing rear-engine racing cars, which achieved significant success in motorsport from 1934 to 1939.

The only production vehicle marketed solely under the Auto Union name was the Auto Union 1000SP, a convertible that utilized a 0.98-liter three-cylinder engine from DKW. This model was designed to differentiate it from the more conventional DKW saloons, and it was noted for its styling, which was reminiscent of the American Thunderbird. The 1000SP featured front disc brakes in its final production year, 1962, and a total of 6,640 units were produced. Additionally, DKW saloons were branded as Auto Union 1000 from 1957 to 1963, further linking the Auto Union name to its earlier models.

Auto Union's legacy continued to influence the automotive industry, particularly through its connection to Audi, which later became a prominent brand under the Volkswagen Group.