Model Cars - NSU

NSU Motorenwerke AG, commonly known as NSU, was a renowned German automobile manufacturer that played a significant role in the early history of automotive design and engineering.

Originally founded as a motorcycle manufacturer in the late 19th century, NSU transitioned into automobile production and became known for both its innovative vehicles and its contributions to the automotive industry.

NSU eventually became part of the Audi brand in the 1960s. In 1873 as a bicycle manufacturer in Riedlingen, Germany, by Michael Haller. The company shifted to producing motorcycles in the early 1900s, and later expanded into automobiles.

The company’s name, NSU, comes from the location of its headquarters in Neckarsulm, Germany. NSU made its automobile debut in 1905 with the NSU Prinz, a small, two-cylinder car that marked the brand’s first venture into the automotive world. However, it wasn't until the 1950s and 1960s that NSU would gain more recognition as a car manufacturer, particularly with models such as the NSU Prinz, the NSU Spider, and the NSU Ro 80.

After NSU’s acquisition by the Volkswagen Group in the 1960s, the K70 was sold under the Volkswagen name after NSU ceased its automobile production in 1977.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, NSU faced increasing financial difficulties due to the challenges of producing the rotary engine cars, as well as the broader shift in the automobile market. In 1969, Volkswagen acquired a controlling stake in NSU, and in 1977, the NSU brand was fully absorbed into the Audi division of the Volkswagen Group.

Audi continued to develop some of NSU’s models under the Audi brand, and the NSU name ceased to exist in the automotive market.