Special Exhibits Celebrate This German Marque, Which Later Joined Audi

In North America, NSU is perhaps best remembered for smaller cars like the Spider that made their way stateside in the 1960s, often sharing floor space with half a dozen other imports. (Pictured above is NSU 1200C Automatik.)

Before it was effectively folded into Audi in 1969 along with Auto Union, NSU is also remembered for producing the futuristic Ro80 sedan that went on to steer Audi design for decades, in addition to motorcycle models.

But the dormant marque itself, which celebrates 150 years since its founding this year, is about much more than the cars of its last few years as an independent automaker.

A new dual exhibit dubbed "Innovation. Audacity. Transformation. 150 Years of NSU," recently opened—staying until May 5, 2024—at the Audi Forum Neckarsulm, and at the German Motorcycle and NSU-Museum Neckarsulm.

Of course, Neckarsulm is where it all began in 1873, first as a knitting machine workshop Mechanische Werkstätte Schmidt & Stoll, which later evolved into NSU Motorenwerke AG.