Strong pillars are the basis for success
Diverse customer needs, coupled with the inner drive to constantly develop and pursue the unknown, has led to the constant growth of ABT's range of services.
This has resulted, not only in the areas of tuning and motor sports, but also in other business areas that allow the company to concentrate on its core competences and develop them individually.
As the world's largest tuner for vehicles from the VW Group, ABT Sportsline stands for sophisticated engine technology, individualisation and quality. ABT Sportsline GmbH was founded in 1991 as a logical consequence of the ever-increasing demand from ABT customers for optimisation of their vehicles.
Initially geared towards customising almost all vehicles from the VW Group, over the years ABT Sportsline has continued to focus on premium vehicles for a particularly performance-hungry and demanding clientele and has developed into one of the largest single buyers of RS models worldwide.
In 2018, ABT Sportsline also begins a cooperation with the newly created CUPRA brand and tune the Ateca and Formentor models. In numerous other cooperations, e.g. with Audi Russia, Skoda or various Audi dealers, large and small series "made by ABT" are produced.
But the innovation-driven ABT Sportsline also continues to pursue unusual paths, such as in 2019, when the first boat powered by ABT, the Strider 11 ABT Sport Master, is developed.
In addition to the refinement of complete vehicles, ABT Sportsline offers products for the following areas:
- Performance upgrade
- Sports wheels
- Interiors
- Aerodynamics
- Suspension
- Exhaust systems
After alternative drive systems gained in importance in the 1990s, true to form, ABT's innovative spirit was unstoppable. Initially, racing cars were converted to natural gas and thus took part in the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring and in the German Rally Championship. From this point on, ABT embarks on a further path of mobility.
With several individual projects, such as the "eE-Tour Allgäu" model project sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, whereby ABT takes over the support of the various vehicles and builds its own interfaces for data collection, the ABT engineers gain more and more experience in this initially new segment until finally, in 2013, their own electric prototype is built: the first ABT e-car in the form of an e-Caddy. Another 50 units, including 10 for Deutsche Post, follow for a test run.
Another highlight in the same year: In autumn 2013, ABT becomes the first German racing team to register its team in Formula E and later becomes the Audi works team here.
In 2018, and thus in the official founding year of ABT e-Line GmbH, ABT demonstrates its skills in e-mobility with no less than two spectacular prototypes: the 1,200 hp 4ePerformance and the 1,018 hp RS6-E power hybrid.
In addition, ABT becomes the official body manufacturer of Volkswagen commercial vehicles in 2018, thus finally establishing itself in the field of electromobility. With its comprehensive know-how, lean structures and great agility, ABT e-Line is able to accelerate development cycles, making it the optimal partner for VW to convert Caddys and T6 buses into electric cars. The spectrum ranges from the development and programming of control units, complete lithium batteries and entire drive trains to the construction of road-ready prototypes and small series.
Almost from the outset and inseparably linked to ABT Sportsline, ABT Motorsport coined the claim "From the race track to the road".
As part of ABT Sportsline GmbH, ABT Motorsport has been well-known in motorsport for decades.
ABT Motorsport has not only been the driver of the ABT brand from the outset, but also embodies the team spirit of the employees and the unconditional will to always be at the top.
In 2013, the company even built its own state-of-the-art 2,400 square metre motorsport centre in Kempten. Among other things, the racing cars for the DTM are prepared here.
As early as 1949, the then 14-year-old Johann Abt founded a racing dynasty with his first car race, which has now existed for 3 generations and made ABT Sportsline what it is today. After more than 25 years as a racing driver and more than 300 victories, his sons Hans-Jürgen and Christian and also his grandson Daniel follow him into the cockpit.
But even if there is not always an Abt himself behind the wheel, the bond and passion for motorsport has remained unbroken ever since.
Whether private or Audi works team, whether German Rally Championship, German Super Touring Car Championship, ADAC GT Masters, DTM, Extreme E or Formula E, in which ABT Sportsline entered as the first German team in 2014 - with eight driver and seven team titles won, the record is unique.
As a former Formula E racing driver, successful influencer and TV expert, Daniel Abt has long since become a brand in his own right.
Daniel Abt is a brand ambassador for renowned companies such as CUPRA, Hankook, CanAm, etc.
With his own content production team, Daniel creates weekly videos for his social media channels, which now reach an audience of millions.
The team also produces content for external companies under the name ABT VISION and positions itself here as its own content marketing agency.