What do the four rings in the Audi emblem represent?

The four rings in the Audi emblem represent Auto Union.

The rings were introduced for Auto Union, formed in 1932 by the merger of Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer. Each company retained its own identity, while the linked rings symbolized their connection in the new group.

The emblem is often mistaken for a reference to four-cylinder engines or four stages of automotive development. Those interpretations are not the historical reason for the design. Audi later became the surviving brand name, but the four-ring mark remained as a visual reminder of its corporate predecessor.

Auto Union was reorganized after the Second World War, and its history eventually became part of the modern Audi company. The rings are therefore both a badge and a piece of German automotive history.