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The Auto Union's South American experiment - construction in Brazil

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Created in 2014

Reading time 13min

Written by:

Holger Merten

Photos:

Audi AG

Holger Merten

Unternehmensarchiv Audi AG

Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft

Archiv

Audi AG

Holger Merten

Unternehmensarchiv Audi AG

Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft

Archiv

Die Vorstellung des DKW-Vemag Belcar am 15.08.1962 der Auto Union Brasilien

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Ein DKW-Vemag Vermaguet von 1965 als Taxi

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DKW-Vemag Belcar-Schlüsselübergabe im Jahr 1967

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Ein DKW-Vemag F91 der Auto Union wird vorgestellt und erklärt

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Ein DKW VEMAG Vermaguet von 1965, ein beliebter Wagen der Auto Union in Brasilien

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DKW-Vemag Vemaguet 1000 von 1962 der Auto Union wurde zuvor DKW Carmioneta genannt

Bild von Partner Planai Classic 2025 Inline 1

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Ein DKW Candango 4 wird zu Demonstrationszwecken benutzt

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Ein DKW Candango 2 Geländewagen auf Expedition in Lateinamerika

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Ein deutscher DKW Candango 2 unterwegs auf Expedition in Lateinamerika

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Ein DKW Candango 2 im Gelände, wofür er perfekt geschaffen ist

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Der DKW Candango 2 wurde oft auch DKW Jipe oder Munga genannt

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VW SP 2 (1972) - sportliche Eleganz aus Brasilien

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DKW-Vemag Belcar S (1967) und DKW-Vemag Fissore (1966) - Seite an Seite in ihrem Heimatland Brasilien aufgenommen

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DKW-Vemag Belcar S (1967) und DKW-Vemag Fissore (1966) - Brasilianische DKW unter der weltberühmten Christus-Statue von Rio de Janeiro - In den 1950er und 1960er Jahren wurden in Brasilien in Lizenz DKW gebaut, wie der DKW Fissore (links) oder der DKW Belcar

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Vor dem historischen Haupteingang des Maracanã-Stadions in Rio de Janeiro: DKW Fissore (links) und DKW Belcar

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Auf Brasiliens Straßen in den 1960er Jahren ein richtiger „Hingucker“: Der DKW GT Malzoni.

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Der DKW GT Malzoni besticht vor allem durch seine wunderbare Design-Linie

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Bis am 21. September 2014 ist die Ausstellung „Ordem e progresso“ zu sehen

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Der Bossa Nova entstand in den 50er Jahren in Brasilien, 1956 verließ der erste DKW die Produktionshallen der VEMAG

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Seit 1935 gab es die Auto Union Brasilia Ltda. in Rio de Janeiro, die Vier-Ringe-Automobile importierte

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Impressionen von der Audi-Sonderausstellung "Ordem e progresso"

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Ein DKW-Puma (1966) - zu sehen an der Ausstellung "Ordem e progresso" 2014

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Summary

As early as 1934, Auto Union AG from Saxony founded the sales company "Auto Union Brazil Limitada" in Rio de Janeiro. However, the branch was never really able to gain a foothold and by the end of the Second World War it was already over again. After the war, Auto Union GmbH re-entered the Brazilian market in the same year as VW. This was at a time when South America was on the rise and the government had begun to develop its own national automotive industry. Auto Union took part in this by supporting VEMAG and, a little later, "Elektro-Industria Walita SA" from Sao Paolo. VEMAG eventually produced DKW models itself, which proved successful on the Brazilian market. A hoped-for deal in the armaments business failed to materialize because the American competition had too much influence... This is the first part of the report on Auto Union's South American experiment.

This article contains the following chapters

The German in Brazil
South America, a promising continent after the war
Participation in the development of a national automotive industry
Proven products also prove themselves elsewhere
Auto Union and the military

Estimated reading time: 13min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The dark-skinned young man climbs into the back of the cab with a smile on his face. He grins a broad smile and shows his beautiful teeth. His driver drives him quickly but skillfully through the traffic of Sao Paulo in the 1950s. It only dawns on him in front of the Estàdio Urbano Caldeira stadium: the young man jumping out of his four-door DKW Vermag is none other than football star Pelé. This is the story that greets visitors to an Auto Union promotional film in the "Ordem e Progresso" exhibition at Audi's Mobile Museum. The driver tells the viewer about the demands placed on him and his DKW and indulges in speculation about his passenger, only recognizing Pelé in front of the football stadium. In this World Cup year, Audi Tradition takes a charming and tongue-in-cheek look back at the Four Rings' involvement in Brazil, which began before the Second World War.

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