Is Audi better than Mercedes Benz?

This article will compare two German automobile manufacturers Audi and Mercedes Benz and answer the following questions: which is better Mercedes Benz or Audi? Where are Mercedes Benz and Audi made? Which one should you buy? Lastly, we take a look into the histories of both companies.

Is Audi better than Mercedes Benz?

No, Audi is not better than Mercedes Benz. The production output of Audi is only 1,802,073 units while Mercedes Benz makes 2,164,187 units. The number of models available in the Audi product range is the same as Mercedes Benz but due to the lack of production facilities and after-service network; the Audi is not a popular choice among customers.

Audi is currently under Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen is also a German car manufacturer located in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen mainly makes small compact cars while Audi is a premium luxury brand and a direct competitor of Mercedes Benz.

Mercedes Benz also manufactures vans and commercial vehicles. The product line-up caters to a large customer base, especially with the addition of the EQ brand. 

The EQ brand of Mercedes Benz stands for emotion and intelligence. Full electric cars like EQC, EQB & EQS are sold under the EQ badge. EQ boost technology also filters down to 48V electric system mild and plug-in hybrid models. 

Mercedes Benz AMG is the dedicated high-performance division all the ongoing Mercedes Benz passenger cars have a performance-oriented version.

Audi has its brand called e-Tron which is focused on the production of fully electric as well as hybrid cars. Audi sold more than 10,000 e-Tron SUVs in 2019 and also launched the Audi e-Tron Sportback and e-Tron GT in 2020 and 2021 respectively. This shows Audi’s commitment to the environment and cars powered by sustainable energy resources.

The Audi e-Tron GT is not the flagship but it is designed to fight against the newly launched Mercedes Benz EQS. Both models are fully electric with a similar WLTP range but the Audi e-Tron is based on an 800 volts high voltage electric system. Therefore, the charging times are considerably less than the Mercedes Benz EQS.

China is one of the biggest international markets for Mercedes Benz and Audi but Audi is more popular in china. The government offices also use Audi cars like the A6 and A7 while the Mercedes Benz S Class with a long wheelbase is the only popular car in China.

Audi also makes S and RS models that are focused on high performance and sporty handling. The S model range is similar to the Mercedes Benz AMG line models. Standard models are updated with cosmetic changes and sold in the S, AMG line. 

The RS stands for racing sports and RS models have some serious performance, they are like the high-performance models like the 55 and 63 series developed by AMG in Mercedes Benz.

Where are Audi cars produced?

Audi is a global automotive manufacturer and it is present in more than 100 international markets so naturally there will be production facilities in Germany as well as in the rest of the world. The two main production plants located in Ingolstadt and Nickaslm, Germany take care of the majority of Global production and also ship knockdown kits to more than 21 production factories located in 13 different countries. Following are some of the locations other than the German production facilities:

  • Crewe, England (Bentayga, continental, Blower)
  • Aurangabad, India (A4,A6,Q5,Q7)
  • Bratislava, Slovakia, shared with Volkswagen, SEAT, Škoda and Porsche (Q7 and Q8)
  • Brussels, Belgium, (e-tron)
  • Changchun, Antin, Tianjin, China (A4, A6, A4/A6 L, Q5, etron)
  • Győr, Hungary (TT and some A3 variants)
  • Foshan, China (A3, Q2, Q2L e Tron)
  • Martorell, Spain, shared with SEAT and Volkswagen (A1)
  • San José Chiapa, Mexico (2nd gen Q5)

Where is Mercedes Benz produced?

Mercedes Benz has production factories all over the world but the main manufacturing factories are located only in Germany. Another location does not manufacture cars but only assembles from knockdown kits. The company has factories in 17 countries across 4 continents. 

  • Bremen, Germany
  • East London, South Africa
  • Hambach, France
  • Iracemápolis, Brazil
  • Kecskemet, Hungary
  • Rastatt, Germany
  • Sindelfingen, Germany
  • Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
  • Bangkok, Thailand
  • Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
  • Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Pekan, Indonesia
  • Pune, India
  • Affalterbach, Germany
  • Arnstadt, Germany
  • Berlin, Germany
  • Cugir, Romania
  • Hamburg, Germany
  • Kolla, Germany

The factory in Stuttgart, Germany is the mother factory, all the development, production and shipment of engines, transmissions and CKDs are shipped from this location. It is also the headquarters of Daimler AG, recently named Mercedes Benz group AG. The Stuttgart factory has a history extending back over 115 years and it is the highest tech location for the production of cars and hybrid drive systems. 

The plant has six total facilities, Untertürkheim and Bad Cannstatt are responsible for the production of engines and the forge is also located there. The transmissions are manufactured in Hedelfingen. Mettingen has a foundry for axle production.

How was the Audi company formed?

The German automobile company Audi has probably the most complex past. The company was formed by August Horch who was a German engineer and automobile pioneer. August Horch along with two German automobile companies DKW and Wanderer formed the Auto Union in 1932. This is the start of Audi but the company started using the Audi badge in the 1960s when Volkswagen acquired the Auto Union from Mercedes Benz AG.

The Audi 72 was the first-ever car sold under the Audi name and it was powered by a 4-cylinder 4-stroke engine producing 72 horsepower.it was also the first car with disc brakes on the front and conventional drum brakes in the rear. Audi sold more than 100, 000 models and later it was replaced by Audi 80.

The Audi A2 was also the first production car designed completely out of aluminium and produced between 1999 to 2005. The built quality and lightweight of the car made it extremely popular in the international markets

How was the Mercedes Benz formed?

In 1886, Karl Benz invented the modern-day car with the petrol engine and during the same period, Gottlieb Daimler and his business partner William Maybach were in the business of converting stagecoaches by adding petrol engines.

Mercedes Benz was founded in Stuttgart, Germany. In 1926,  two major German automotive companies Benz & Cie and DMG Daimler Motor Gesellschaft merged and signed an agreement of mutual interest. 

European automobile entrepreneur Emil Jellinek, who was also a member of the Daimler Benz alliance, first marketed the automobile by naming it after his daughter Mercedes Jellinek. 1901 Mercedes powered by a 35 brake horsepower engine became known as 1901 Mercedes. 

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2016 Audi A3 Reliability

Conclusion

Although Audi makes good quality cars there are reliability issues in most of its models. Mercedes Benz on the other hand makes cars that can last longer and run without any reliability issues. Mercedes Benz also has a very large authorised service network in both domestic and international markets. Hence, Mercedes Benz is still the number one choice for customers wanting to buy a luxury car.