Today is our very last company visit and one I’ve been looking forward to since the beginning! It felt great not having to wake up as early to get ready before our bus left at 8:30, heading toward Ingolstadt for Audi. We didn’t have to go as early because we already had our company talk with Patrick, so today was just the factory and museum.

The outside was marked with the signature four circles as we walked to the factory. While we waited, we were able to enter some of their newest model cars before our tour. We were split into two groups and given small screens and ear pieces to be able to hear the tour guide over the factory noises. The tour was very organized, with multiple stopping points with TV screens to show processes we otherwise couldn’t see. I liked how we were able to walk the factory floor, as opposed to the bird’s-eye view the BMW factory gave us. This made the factory feel much more immersive and easier to understand.

I also noticed that the Audi factory had more human workers than BMW, which I assumed would make the factory less efficient, but after observation, the assembly line appeared more streamlined. It made me realize that automation and robots alone do not determine efficiency, and that human workers can still play a major role in keeping production running smoothly.

Following the factory tour, we got food at Audi’s canteen, and I was shocked by how fancy it was! They had an entire bar of desserts, were making fresh schnitzel, and much more. This showed how Audi cares for their employees and visitors, making sure of the highest quality, although it was a bit expensive.

After a filling lunch, we got to explore the Audi Museum. As a fan of old cars, I was so excited, as well as curious to see if they have implemented anything to reflect Audi’s new entry into Formula one talking over Kick Sauber. The museum had 4 floors, each getting more recent the further you travel down. I loved this layout because it made it easy to see how the design of cars evolved over time. Walking through the museum also helped me realize how much automotive companies rely on their history and brand identity, not just their newest technology, to build loyalty and excitement around their products.

After a quick bus ride home, we met up with some of the German students for dinner, where the night ended with me chipping my tooth after getting elbowed! Despite that unfortunate ending, I was ready for presentations tomorrow!