Audi vs Volvo Cars: Founders, CEOs and History
Audi was founded in 1909 by August Horch and is led by Gernot Döllner. Volvo Cars was founded in 1927 by Assar Gabrielsson, Gustaf Larson and is led by Håkan Samuelsson.
Company facts
Audi
- Founded
- 1909
- Headquarters
- Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany
- Current CEO
- Gernot Döllner
- Employees
- 88,000
Volvo Cars
- Founded
- 1927
- Headquarters
- Gothenburg, Sweden
- Current CEO
- Håkan Samuelsson
- Employees
- 42,600
Founders
Audi
August Horch
Audi does not begin with a single founding moment but with a corporate split and a forced rename. August Horch, one of Germany's automotive pioneers, founded A. Horch & Cie.
Volvo Cars
Assar Gabrielsson
Assar Gabrielsson co-founded Volvo in Gothenburg in 1927 together with engineer Gustaf Larson, with SKF backing the venture. He led the business and commercial side of the young company as managing director. Assar Gabrielsson was born in 1891 in Korsberga.
Gustaf Larson
Gustaf Larson co-founded Volvo in 1927. An incredibly pragmatic, highly skilled engineer, he designed the absolute core mechanical architecture of Volvo's first cars.
CEOs and their tenures
Audi
- Ferdinand Piëch1988–1993
Chief Executive Officer
Piëch joined Audi in 1972, ran development from 1975 and chaired the Board of Management from 1988 until he left for Volkswagen at the start of 1993.
Source - Franz-Josef Kortüm1993–1994
Chief Executive Officer
Kortüm chaired Audi's board of management from 1993 to 1994, between Ferdinand Piëch and Herbert Demel.
Source - Herbert Demel1994–1998
Chief Executive Officer
Demel chaired Audi's board of management from 1994 to 1998, between Ferdinand Piëch and Franz-Josef Paefgen.
Source - Franz-Josef Paefgen1998–2002
Chief Executive Officer
Paefgen chaired Audi's board of management from 1998 to 2002. He later ran Bentley Motors and Bugatti within the Volkswagen Group until he retired in 2011.
Source - Martin Winterkorn2002–2007
Chief Executive Officer
Winterkorn led Audi from 2002 to 2007 and pushed the brand's product and design offensive of that period, including the single-frame grille that became the Audi face, the R8 mid-engine sports car and the Q7, Audi's first large SUV.
Source - Rupert Stadler2007–2018
Chief Executive Officer
Stadler ran Audi for 11 years and oversaw its largest expansion, including the build-out of the Q series and rapid growth in China. Audi brand deliveries roughly doubled during his tenure, passing 1.9 million cars in 2017.
Source - Bram Schot2018–2020
Chief Executive Officer
Schot chaired Audi's board of management from 2018 to 2020, after Rupert Stadler's arrest in the diesel emissions investigation and before Markus Duesmann.
Source - Markus Duesmann2020–2023
Chief Executive Officer
Duesmann, previously a BMW development board member, became Audi CEO in April 2020 with a mandate covering electrification and software.
Source - Gernot Döllner2023–present
Chief Executive Officer
The Supervisory Board appointed Döllner chairman of the Board of Management effective 1 September 2023, succeeding Markus Duesmann, and confirmed him for a further five years in autumn 2025.
Source
Volvo Cars
- Jim Rowan2022–2025
Former CEO
As current CEO (and former CEO of Dyson), he brings absolutely critical consumer electronics and software expertise to an automaker desperately trying to survive the transition to software-defined vehicles.
Source - Håkan Samuelsson2025–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Serving as CEO from 2012 to 2022, he took a deeply stagnant, near-bankrupt brand and transformed it into the absolute fastest-growing premium automaker in the world, achieving record profits.
Source - Fredrik Hansson2025–present
Chief Financial Officer
Contributes critical strategic leadership regarding Volvo's massively complex transition to pure electric vehicle platforms.
Source - Klaus Zellmer2027–present
Incoming President and Chief Executive Officer
As a key executive, he played an important role in driving the brand's aggressive push toward digital sales and direct-to-consumer models.
Source
Timeline: Audi and Volvo Cars side by side
1909Audi
Founding in Zwickau
August Horch registers a new car company in Zwickau after leaving the firm that carried his own name, laying the foundation of the business that becomes Audi.
1910Audi
The Audi name is registered
Barred by a court from trading under his surname, Horch registers Audi Automobilwerke GmbH Zwickau, using the Latin imperative that translates the German word Horch, meaning listen.
1927Volvo Cars
Volvo founded in Gothenburg
Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson start series production with the ÖV 4.
1927Volvo Cars
First Volvo Car
The first Volvo car, the OV4, left the Gothenburg factory in April 1927.
1932Audi
Auto Union AG is formed
On 29 June 1932, at the initiative of Saxony's state bank, Audi, DKW, Horch and the car division of Wanderer Werke merge into Auto Union AG, then the second largest motor manufacturer in Germany. The four interlocking rings stand for the four companies.
1949Audi
Auto Union is re-established in Ingolstadt
After the Saxon plants are expropriated by the Soviet occupation authorities and Auto Union AG is struck from the Chemnitz commercial register in 1948, managers who fled west establish Auto Union GmbH in Ingolstadt on 3 September 1949 and begin building DKW va…
1958Audi
Daimler-Benz takes control
Daimler-Benz AG acquires 88 percent of Auto Union GmbH in April 1958 and makes it a wholly owned subsidiary the following year.
1959Volvo Cars
Three-point seatbelt introduced
Nils Bohlin's three-point seatbelt becomes standard in Volvo cars.
1965Audi
Volkswagen takes over and the Audi name returns
Volkswagenwerk AG takes over Auto Union in 1965. The same year the company launches its first post-war model with a four-stroke engine, the F103 series, under the revived Audi name.
1968Audi
The Audi 100 is developed without approval
Development chief Ludwig Kraus designs a larger car in secret, against the wishes of Volkswagen management. Presented in Ingolstadt in November 1968 as the Audi 100, its success secures Auto Union's independence inside the Volkswagen Group.
1969Audi
Merger with NSU
Auto Union GmbH and NSU merge to form AUDI NSU AUTO UNION AG within the Volkswagen Group.
1980Audi
quattro all-wheel drive is unveiled
The Audi quattro, with permanent all-wheel drive and two manually lockable differentials, is shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1980. It goes on to win the World Rally Championship manufacturers' title in 1982 and both titles in 1984.
1985Audi
The company is renamed AUDI AG
AUDI NSU AUTO UNION AG becomes AUDI AG, with its head office in Ingolstadt, and sales responsibility moves from Volkswagen to Audi as part of the move upmarket.
1994Audi
A8 introduces the aluminium Space Frame
Audi enters the luxury segment with the A8, the first volume production car built on the aluminium Audi Space Frame.
1998Audi
Lamborghini is acquired
Audi acquires Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. on 10 July 1998 after learning through an engine enquiry that the brand was for sale. Press reports at the time put the price at about 110 million US dollars.
1999Volvo Cars
Ford buys Volvo Cars
AB Volvo sells its car business to Ford.
2000Audi
The Le Mans run begins
Audi takes the first of 13 wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 2000 and 2014, including the first victory for a diesel car with the R10 TDI and later wins with the R18 e-tron quattro hybrid.
2010Volvo Cars
Geely acquires Volvo Cars
Zhejiang Geely Holding buys Volvo Cars from Ford.
2015Audi
Diesel emissions scandal reaches Audi's V6 TDI
United States regulators find defeat-device software in the 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine family developed by Audi and fitted to Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche models.
2018Audi
An ~$904 million (800 million euro) order and a CEO resignation
Munich II prosecutors impose an ~$904 million (800 million euro) administrative order on AUDI AG over the diesel engines, and Audi accepts it. CEO Rupert Stadler resigns the same year after being arrested; he is convicted of fraud by negligence in 2023.
2020Audi
Volkswagen buys out the last Audi shareholders
Volkswagen AG, holding about 99.64 percent of the share capital, carries out a squeeze-out of the remaining 0.36 percent of AUDI AG shares, ending Audi's stock market listing.
2020Volvo Cars
Acquired Zenseact
Volvo Car AB acquired Zenseact. When the Zenuity joint venture with Veoneer was split in 2020, Volvo Cars took full control of the software development that became Zenseact.
2021Volvo Cars
Nasdaq Stockholm listing
Volvo Car AB lists under VOLCAR B.
2021Volvo Cars
Volvo Cars IPO
Volvo Cars listed in Stockholm in October 2021.
2022Volvo Cars
Jim Rowan Becomes CEO
Jim Rowan became chief executive of Volvo Cars in March 2022.
2023Audi
Gernot Döllner becomes CEO
The Supervisory Board appoints Gernot Döllner chairman of the Board of Management effective 1 September 2023, succeeding Markus Duesmann. He is confirmed for a further five years in autumn 2025.
2024Audi
First Premium Platform Electric model
The Audi Q6 e-tron, the first production model on the 800-volt Premium Platform Electric developed with Porsche, reaches the market and becomes the first fully electric Audi built in Ingolstadt.
2025Audi
Restructuring agreement and a China-only brand
Audi and its works council sign an agreement for the future that removes up to 6,000 German jobs by 2027 while ruling out operational layoffs to the end of 2033.
2025Volvo Cars
Håkan Samuelsson returns as CEO
Samuelsson replaces Jim Rowan on 1 April 2025.
2026Audi
Formula 1 debut
Audi enters Formula 1 as the Audi Revolut F1 Team, racing from the season opener in Australia on 8 March 2026 with a power unit developed at its motorsport site in Neuburg.
2026Volvo Cars
Klaus Zellmer named next CEO
Zellmer will take over no later than 1 October 2027.
Acquisitions
Audi
- Sauber Group2024Undisclosed
- Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.2012$1.1B
- Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A.2010Undisclosed
- Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.1998$110M
Volvo Cars
- Zenseact2020Undisclosed
- Luxe2017Undisclosed
- Polestar Performance2015Undisclosed
Questions about Audi vs Volvo Cars
Who is the CEO of Audi AG and Volvo Car AB?
Audi AG is led by Gernot Döllner and Volvo Car AB is led by Håkan Samuelsson. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Audi AG founded vs Volvo Car AB?
Audi AG was founded in 1909 — 18 years before Volvo Car AB, which was founded in 1927. Audi AG's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Volvo Car AB.
How many employees does Audi AG have compared to Volvo Car AB?
Audi AG employs approximately 88,000 people, while Volvo Car AB employs approximately 42,600. Audi AG has the larger workforce at 88,000 employees, compared to Volvo Car AB's 42,600. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Audi AG and Volvo Car AB headquartered?
Audi AG is headquartered in Germany and Volvo Car AB is headquartered in Sweden. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Audi AG and Volvo Car AB?
Audi AG was founded by August Horch. Volvo Car AB was founded by Assar Gabrielsson, Gustaf Larson.
Which company has a longer operating history — Audi AG or Volvo Car AB?
Audi AG has been operating for approximately 117 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Volvo Car AB has been in operation for around 99 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Audi vs Volvo Cars overview