audi

[BigBlue]

What do the letters "AUDI" stand for?

[Sparky]

This is from the Audi website:

1932

Auto Union was founded in 1932 with the amalgamation of Audi, DKW, Horch and later Wanderer, a move brought about by the perilous financial situation of the motor industry in Saxony. Each interlinked ring in the Auto Union's new emblem represented one of the four marques. The same four-ring badge is worn by every Audi today.

I think Audi is probably just a surname in this case.

[Sparky]

Turns out to be more interesting than that:

There are many references to the name Horsch in connection to the Audi automobile company. However, the correct spelling of this name is Horch. Audi was founded by August Horch. He had sold the rights to his first automobile company that used the Horch name, and he was not allowed to use the name Horch in his new company. The word horch is the command form of the german verb h�ren, which means to hear, or listen. August Horch's son suggested that his father name the new company Audi, which is the Latin root for the verb, to hear.