The Board of Management of AUDI AG expresses its sincere condolences to the family of Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Piëch on behalf of all employees. In commemoration in all plants worldwide the flag is set to half-mast. Piëch was a member of the brand with the Four Rings for more than twenty years, most recently as Chairman of the Board of Management for almost five years from 1988 to the end of 1992.
The Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, Bram Schot: „One of Ferdinand Piëch’s greatest strengths was that he really burned for the brand Audi. This latin word means ,listen’ – and he always listened well to both customers and staff. He lived the dream of automobility all his life and was the engine of innovation. He developed Audi into a premium brand and created a technological lead with groundbreaking developments. These include the five-cylinder spark ignition engine, quattro permanent four-wheel drive, the procon-ten safety system, the fully galvanized all-steel body and lightweight aluminum construction with the Audi Space Frame, which celebrated its premiere at the 1993 IAA in a study of the Audi A8. We will keep alive the memory of Ferdinand Piëch – a man who uniquely united genius with passion and perseverance”.
The Chairman of the General Works Council of AUDI AG, Peter Mosch: „Ferdinand Piëch was a mastermind of the automotive industry. As an entrepreneur, he combined what was technically possible and economically sensible with social responsibility. He was aware of the importance of co-determination for the Group’s success story. Audi owes its transformation into a premium brand to him”.