How a knitting machine maker became the world's largest motorcycle producer and rotary engine pioneer.
In short: NSU Motorenwerke began in 1873 as a knitting machine manufacturer before pivoting to bicycles and eventually dominating the global motorcycle market. Though now largely forgotten, this German firm pioneered the Wankel rotary engine and influenced the design of early Volkswagen models before being absorbed into the Audi brand.
Founded by Christian Schmidt in 1873, the company originally operated in Riedlingen before relocating to Neckarsulm in 1880. By 1892, the firm had completely abandoned knitting machines for bicycle production. The brand name NSU, an abbreviation of Neckarsulm, soon became synonymous with rapid innovation. By 1955, under the direction of chief engineer Albert Roder, NSU achieved the status of the world's largest motorcycle producer, bolstered by advanced designs like the NSU Max and a series of world speed records.
NSU's legacy is most tied to its ambitious, yet ultimately ruinous, bet on the Wankel rotary engine. In 1964, they launched the Wankelspider, the world's first car with such an engine, followed by the four-door Ro 80 in 1967. While the Ro 80 won 'Car of the Year' for its performance and aerodynamics, it suffered from severe reliability issues, particularly with the engine's apex seals. The high cost of developing this technology, combined with disappointing sales, crippled the company's finances.
In 1969, Volkswagen acquired NSU and merged it with Auto Union to form Audi NSU Auto Union AG. While the NSU brand was phased out by 1977, its engineering DNA persisted. The NSU K70, a conventional front-wheel-drive car, was adopted by Volkswagen as their first water-cooled, front-engined model, and the engine design influenced the early VW Golf. Today, the Neckarsulm plant remains a critical hub for Audi, serving as the production site for top-tier vehicles and the home of their specialized aluminium space frame engineering center.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: NSU Motorenwerke
- Also: Wikidata — NSU Motorenwerke · CC0
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