Zwickau museum project approved
Audi and the City of Zwickau establish "August Horch Museum Zwickau GmbH"
Zwickau / Ingolstadt (ots)
- Cross-reference: photo was sent via satellite and is available
at: http://recherche.newsaktuell.de/galerie.htx?type=obsThe August Horch Museum in Zwickau has been given the go-ahead: Audi and the City of Zwickau today established the non-profit-making company "August Horch Museum Zwickau GmbH", thus paving the way for the renovation of the historic Audi plant site and current museum premises. Zwickau and Audi each have a 50 percent share in the company. The museum site will be transfered to the company as of 1 January 2000. In the next few years Audi will invest around DM 13 million in the restoration of the buildings - including the August Horch Villa.
"We want our history to remain visible in Zwickau", explained Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. "Our company's colourful history means that we have a special obligation towards the public." The work that will go into presenting automotive history at Audi's "birthplace" will be particularly intensive.
The purpose of the newly established company is to document the history of the automotive industry in Zwickau and the other Auto Union locations, particularly in the German state of Saxony. This will involve the complete renovation of the museum building, the upkeep and restoration of the remarkable collection of vehicles, the reorganisation of the exhibitions and the running of the museum. "We are delighted that Audi is so committed to Zwickau", stressed the city's mayor, Rainer Eichhorn. The exhibits are on permanent loan by the city to the museum company. The 5700 m2 site, with an exhibition area measuring approximately 3000 m2, houses more than 50 historic vehicles and 200 exhibits, an extensive archive and the office of company founder Horch in its original state.
From 15 December, Audi will also be doing more to emphasise its presence in Ingolstadt. This is when the "museum mobile", with numerous exhibits and interesting presentations, will be inaugurated as part of the company's new form of self-presentation.
Audi is an international developer and manufacturer of high-quality cars. The company maintains production sites in Germany, Hungary, Brazil, China and South Africa. In 1999, Audi sold around 635,000 cars and produced more than 1.2 million engines, bringing in sales revenues in excess of DM 29.6 billion. The Audi Group currently has just under 50,000 employees.
Note: A photo can be obtained through obs (dpa).
Communication: Corporate and Finance Joachim Cordshagen, Tel: ++49 841 89 36340 e-mail: joachim.cordshagen@audi.de
Original content of: Audi AG, transmitted by news aktuell