In 1985, the Group‘s now 16-year-old subsidiary loses its double name. NSU disappears from the new company name, as does Auto Union. NSU GmbH is founded to maintain tradition. Audi NSU Auto Union AG“ is renamed „AUDI AG“ and the company headquarters are moved to Ingolstadt.
The mission statement remains unchanged: the „Audians“ want „Vorsprung durch Technik“. This guiding principle is also reflected in the carmaker‘s spectacular advertising campaigns: in 1986 AUDI AG demonstrates the performance of the „quattro“ drive in Kaipola, Finland, on a ski jump with a gradient of over 80 percent. Rally professional Harald Demuth drives the Audi 100 CS quattro effortlessly up the 78-metre ski jump. The broadcast of the commercial was the talk of the town and caused the number of „quattro“ fans to soar. In 2005, AUDI AG repeated the spectacle to mark the 25th anniversary of quattro drive
- with an Audi A6 from Neckarsulm.
The „quattro drive“ is not the only achievement with which AUDI AG makes a name for itself: In Neckarsulm, the fully galvanised body is introduced as standard on the Audi 100 in 1985. A year later, the plant is connected to the district heating supply of the power station in Heilbronn. Since then, the heat, Since then, the heat that is a by-product of electricity generation can also be used as a source of energy. In the same year, the Technical Development Exhaust and Acoustic Centre is completed in Neckarsulm at a total cost of 45.9 million marks. In 1987 Audi, as a technically and environmentally conscious pioneer, produces only exhaust-cleaned petrol engines as standard. The Audi Group entered the premium segment in 1988 with the construction of the Audi V8 in Neckarsulm. AUDI AG is the first carmaker in history to offer a 10-year guarantee against rusting through.
One year later, the turbodiesel developed in Neckarsulm with direct injection and the name TDI, which has become synonymous with economical diesel, is launched on the market.
In addition, the Neckarsulm plant has also been the „godfather“ and supplier for the production of vehicles in Changchun, China, since 1988. In the same year, Audi Neckarsulm invests more than 25.2 million marks in a new training centre. The following year, the paint shop is modernised, and in 1990 a body shop is built at a cost of 17.7 million marks. Neckarsulm also proves that car manufacturing is compatible with a high level of environmental awareness. In 1992, for example, the site became the first CHC-free car plant in Germany. Since 1993, AUDI AG in Neckarsulm has held regular environmental talks with the media, local authorities and interest groups. In 1994, AUDI AG Neckarsulm achieves another quantum leap with the
new Audi A8: Audi builds the first production model in the luxury class with an all-aluminium body and all-wheel drive. The year before, at the IAA in Frankfurt, AUDI AG caused a sensation and won recognition in the industry with the „Audi Space Frame“ developed by Neckarsulm engineers. The „ASF“ enables a reduction in body weight of up to 40 percent compared to a conventional steel body. This leads to improved driving performance and efficient fuel consumption. AUDI AG remains a leader in aluminium and lightweight construction technology and bundles these capabilities for the entire VW Group in a competence centre in Neckarsulm.
1995 sees the start of an exemplary cooperation project between the company, local authorities and the state of Baden-Württemberg: Audi Neckarsulm, the neighbouring local authorities and the state of Baden-Württemberg hold initial
talks on the construction of a commercial and industrial park (GiF) at the northern end of the plant. The associated „northern siding“ connects the plant and the „GiF“ to the Deutsche Bahn rail network. These are ideal conditions for environmentally friendly transport and for relieving road traffic. In 1996, the plant receives the „Environmental Award for Companies“ from the Baden-Württemberg State Minister for the Environment. The first construction phase of the „GiF“ is inaugurated in 1996. Two further expansion phases follow. The immediate proximity to the plant promotes close cooperation between Audi Neckarsulm and its suppliers. In addition, several hundred new jobs can be created in the region. This underlines the important role that the Neckarsulm site continues to play for the region. Audi Neckarsulm is an economic engine. With an extensive investment plan (total volume 1.1 billion marks from 1993 to 1996), the foundation stone is laid for a long-term multi-
model strategy. In 1996 the Neckarsulm plant proves that it is equipped to build three independent models. In this year, production of the Audi Cabriolet is transferred from Ingolstadt to Neckarsulm. And from 2000 the A2 is built in Neckarsulm. One year later, the press shop and assembly are restructured. At the same time, Audi Neckarsulm invests in a new body shop for the A6. From 1993 to 2000, almost 398 million marks are invested in a modern paint shop that meets Neckarsulm‘s premium standards. It is the largest single project investment in the history of the plant.
Since the completion of a new training centre in 1988 at the Neckarsulm site, the training and further education sector has also been continuously expanded. The Neckarsulm location sees the training of junior and specialist staff as a major responsibility for the region. In the millennium year, the company agreement
„Future Audi“ is concluded. This raises the training rate by more than 40 percent, to a total of 230 trainees in each training year. After successfully completing their training, the apprentices are taken on by AUDI AG as employees. Audi Neckarsulm receives several awards for its commitment to training, including the „Training Initiative Prize“ from the Heilbronn Chamber of Industry and Commerce in 2004. At the turn of the millennium, the A2 goes into large-scale production in Neckarsulm as the first aluminium vehicle (built until 2005). The 3-litre version of the A2 1.2 TDI follows in 2001. Audi Neckarsulm receives numerous prizes and awards for the A2. Among them the „Innovation Prize of German Industry“ in 2001. A year later, the A2 is voted the „most environmentally friendly model in its class“ by the Wuppertal Institute for Environmental Research and Consulting.
In 2000, „quattro GmbH“ builds and develops its first own model: the RS 4. The wholly owned subsidiary of AUDI AG was founded in Ingolstadt in 1983 and has been based in Neckarsulm since 2000. quattro GmbH“ specialises in the production of high-quality models in the premium segment and the customisation of Audi models. In 2001, the Neckarsulm plant produced more than 1000 vehicles a day for the first time. By the middle of the year, the plant had the highest number of employees in its history, 14,000. Three model series are produced at the site: Audi A8, A6 and A2. An increase in production at the Neckarsulm site is made possible by, among other investments, a new 62 million euro large-scale suction press. The first construction measures for a new corporate image are undertaken in the southern area of the plant. By the time it is completed in May 2005, a total of 60 million euros has been invested in the complete redesign of the southern area with the
Audi Forum Neckarsulm as the eye-catcher.
In 2002, Audi Neckarsulm breaks all records: since the production of the first automobile in 1906, a total of five million vehicles have been produced in Neckarsulm, including more than 100,000 Audi A8s alone. From 2003, the Audi TT and Lamborghini Gallardo are painted in Neckarsulm and the exhaust testing centre is expanded. In 2004, Audi Neckarsulm celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Aluminium and Lightweight Construction Centre. One year later, there is another reason to celebrate at the Neckarsulm plant: in the year in which the 5,000,000th Audi A6/Audi 100 rolls off the production line, the tradition-rich plant gets its own brand identity - the Audi Forum Neckarsulm. Although Audi customers have been able to collect their vehicles directly from the Neckarsulm plant since 1987, the new Audi Forum Neckarsulm offers much more:
it brings plant history to life and inspires people as a platform for communication. In addition to events for external partners, the Audi Forum Neckarsulm team organises unique cultural events with international artists as well as business forums. Within the first year, the site‘s new communication platform has already attracted 150,000 visitors. Yesterday, as today, the Neckarsulm plant stands for innovation and technical progress as well as for premium class vehicles, especially the top models Audi A6 and A8. In 2006 AUDI AG is setting new records: The carmaker can once again shine with record results in the first two quarters. AUDI AG also ushers in a new era in motorsport with the R10: AUDI AG is the first and only carmaker to compete in the 24-hour race at Le Mans with a diesel engine developed in Neckarsulm. At the same time, the Group invests a total of 42 million euros in the first stage of a new engine testing centre in Neckarsulm.
The site is thus further expanding its pioneering role as a stronghold of diesel engine development throughout the Group.
At the end of September 2006, the carmaker opens up new territory with its subsidiary „quattro GmbH“: the first sports car from Audi, the Audi R8, presented as the „Le Mans“ model study, officially goes into production on 30 September 2006 in the Neckarsulm plant.
In 2007, with the start of production of the Audi A4 saloon, the hub between the Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm plants is established and the new Audi toolmaking facility is inaugurated the following year. With the acquisition of a 230,000 square metre site in the Böllinger Höfe industrial park in Heilbronn, the Neckarsulm plant creates the prerequisite for further expansion in terms of space in 2011.
In 2012, the technical centre for fibre-reinforced plastics and the new engine test centre are inaugurated at the site. Audi Neckarsulm receives a great honour in 2013 with the J.D. Power Award as „Best Production Location in Europe“.
After three years, the new logistics centre and the new R8 production facility, the „Böllinger Höfe“, are inaugurated in 2014. The premium model Audi A8 also gets a new production building in 2016.
2016: New Audi A8 production buildings.
2017: Opening of fuel cell competence centre.
2018: Inauguration of a technical centre for further testing of aluminium materials.
2019: Establishment of a MEA technical centre (functional layer systems) for fuel cell development; Launch of the cross-site environmental programme Mission: Zero with measures for decarbonisation, sustainable water use, resource efficiency and biodiversity.
2020: Start of production of the all-electric Audi e-tron GT.
2021: Automotive Initiative 2025 (AI25): Establishment of a competence network for the digital transformation in vehicle production and logistics; Establishment of a centre of excellence for high-voltage batteries.
2022: Optimisation of production for electromobility: modernisation of existing buildings, ground-breaking ceremony for new paint shop.