In 1969, NSU finds a strong partner - Volkswagen AG in Wolfsburg. On 10 March a merger agreement is signed with retroactive effect from 1 January which includes the merger of „NSU Motorenwerke AG“ with the VW subsidiary „Auto Union GmbH“. The headquarters of the new „Audi NSU Auto Union AG“ is Neckarsulm. Auto Union and VW like to call the merger „the marriage of a daughter from a good family“. Both companies were in a good economic position and are looking optimistically to a common future.

The production programme in Neckarsulm is expanded. In addition to NSU models, Audi models also come off the production line from 1970 onwards. AUDI NSU produces 264,714 cars in the merger year with a total of 26,595 employees, 11,504 of them in Neckarsulm. In 1970 the one millionth car is produced in Neckarsulm, has rolled off the

production line since car production resumed in 1957. The motto „Vorsprung durch Technik“ is born. It still stands for the for the progressive company to this day. 1970 is also a fateful year for Neckarsulm: the plant has to contend with flood damage amounting to eight million DM. Parts of the city of Neckarsulm are also affected by the floods. The joint project of the town of Neckarsulm and AUDI NSU to drain the Sulm river is launched and successfully completed in 1975.

The year 1973 goes down in history as the year of empty motorways. The continuing energy crisis gnaws away at the existence of many German companies. In 1975, the closure of the Neckarsulm, Heilbronn and Neuenstein plants is considered a done deal. But VW witnesses the will to survive of the employees and the region. On 18 April 1975, more than 7000 employees marched with the then First Authorised

Representative of IG Metall Neckarsulm and later IG Metall Chairman, Klaus Zwickel, together with sympathisers from the region, marched to Heilbronn and back in a spontaneous protest action. Thousands of people shouted „We want work“. Everywhere people hold placards and banners. Shops remain closed out of loyalty to the „AUDI-NSU people“. For everyone it is clear: „AUDI NSU must stay!“

So much heart and soul and the solidarity of a coalition of trade unions, works councils, companies in the region, (local) politicians and journalists make the Wolfsburg company give in. The parent company changes its mind at the last minute and looks for a solution to keep the plant in Neckarsulm. The federal and state governments pledge support for the Neckarsulm car plant. In the end, 6,466 of the original 10,526 jobs can be saved. The Heilbronn plant is sold. The Neuenstein plant is sold;

it continues its operations as an independent Zahnradwerk Neuenstein GmbH & Co. KG.

In the same year (1975), production of Porsche models (924, later 944) begins on a contract basis. This ensures the capacity utilisation of the plant until 1991. A total of 313,220 Porsches are produced in Neckarsulm. Two years after the Neckarsulm plant is prevented from closing, production of NSU models is discontinued. In 1977, the last Ro 80 rolls off the production line. The name NSU no longer stands for products from Neckarsulm.

In 1980, the permanent four-wheel drive „quattro“ developed by AUDI NSU in Ingolstadt causes a sensation. This achievement helps the carmaker to gain international recognition. With this drive, AUDI NSU resumes its motorsport activities: The company

wins the World Rally Championship in 1982 and 1984 and the Rally Drivers‘ Championship in 1983 with the legendary „Urquattro“, the so-called „Audi quattro A1“.

In 1983, the 3rd generation Audi 100 set a world record with a drag coefficient of 0.30 and was named „Car of the Year 1983“. In the years 1981 to 1985, sales grow from 5,774 million to 9,611 million marks due to rising demand. During this period, 3,415 million marks are invested in modernisation at both plants. From 1980 to 1982, the Neckarsulm paint shop is expanded at a cost of 77 million Marks and the body shop at a cost of 280 million Marks. Two years later, 230 million Marks are invested in the onstruction of an assembly hall. The foundations were then laid for the production of premium models on a large scalend scale. In 1984 the plant has 11,547 employees.