Audi, the German automobile manufacturer, has discontinued the use of its gender-neutral writing style in internal and external communication. The company confirmed the decision in response to a query from a publication, the Welt am Sonntag, over the weekend.
Audi stated that, based on its experience in using the gender-neutral gap in written communication over the past few years and the wide range of methods to make gender-sensitive language visible, the company has decided not to use this special character anymore. However, it will continue to employ established, gender-sensitive formulations that emphasize its values of equality and inclusion.
The company had introduced the underscore in the middle of words, such as in “Mitarbeiter_innen” in early March 2021 to represent “all non-binary gender identities between men and women.” The decision and terms like “Audianer_innen” had already faced public criticism and practical difficulties. Most media outlets did not adopt the Audi writing style and even computer programs, such as translation software, experienced difficulties in adopting the style.
A VW employee had even filed a lawsuit against the company’s guidelines at the Ingolstadt district court, but the case was dismissed in the second instance in 2023. It has now been revealed that Audi discontinued the use of the special characters in mid-July 2024 through an internal directive.
The original justification for the gender-neutral writing style had been removed from the company’s website at the end of last year. Audi’s revised “Styleguide” for a uniform writing style across the company now recommends using neutral terms, such as “employees” or “Team Audi.” One guideline states: “We pay attention to gender-neutrally formulated sentences, for example, ‘students.’