Bugatti Automobiles
Bugatti Automobiles is the French hypercar maker from Molsheim, Alsace, and it is best known for the Type 35 racer, the Royale, the Veyron and the new V16 Tourbillon. This guide covers the current Bugatti lineup, as well as the brand’s history, its owners, its speed records and its racing wins.
Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bugatti Automobiles at a Glance
Founded 1909 Ettore Bugatti opened his factory in Molsheim
Founder Ettore Bugatti Italian-born engineer, 1881–1947
Headquarters Molsheim, France Alsace; part of the German Empire until 1919
Owner Bugatti Rimac Rimac Group 55%, HOF Capital consortium 45% (since September 2026)
Output About 100 cars a year Rising to up to 200 a year with the Tourbillon plant
Leadership Mate Rimac CEO of Bugatti Rimac and President of Bugatti Automobiles
Bugatti Automobiles Model Lineup
Bugatti Automobiles builds very few cars, so its 2026 range is small and every model is limited. The V16 Tourbillon is now the main production car, while the last W16 cars are being completed. In addition, the Programme Solitaire builds one-off cars for single customers. The Chiron family ended in 2024, although many owners still use them, so it is listed here as well.
Hypercars (2)
Hybrid hypercar
Bugatti Tourbillon
V16 hybrid 250 cars New for 2026
The Tourbillon was revealed on 20 June 2024, and production began in 2026. It pairs a naturally aspirated Cosworth V16 with three electric motors, so it makes 1,800 PS (1,775 hp). The price is 3.8 million euros, and only 250 will be built.
Roadster
Bugatti W16 Mistral
Gas W16 99 cars
The W16 Mistral is the last road car with Bugatti’s quad-turbo W16 engine. All 99 were sold before production started, at 5 million euros each. In November 2024 it also reached 453.91 km/h, which is a record for an open-top car.
Track and one-off cars (2)
Track-only hypercar
Bugatti Bolide
W16 40 cars Built for the track
The Bolide is a track-only car built around the W16 engine, and it was first shown as a concept in October 2020. Only 40 were built, and the final car reached its owner in 2025. Bugatti also runs track events for owners, for example at Circuit Paul Ricard.
One-off coupe
Bugatti F.K.P. Hommage
W16 Programme Solitaire 1 car
The F.K.P. Hommage is a one-off car that recreates the look of the Veyron with modern parts. It honors Ferdinand Karl Piëch, the Volkswagen Group chairman behind the Veyron. It is the second Programme Solitaire car, after the Brouillard of 2025 and before the Destrier of 2026.
Chiron family (ended 2024) (2)
Hypercar
Bugatti Chiron
W16 1,500 PS 2016–2024
The Chiron replaced the Veyron in 2016, and it was the first road car with 1,500 PS. Bugatti built 500 of them in several versions, until the final car, called L’Ultime, was finished in 2024.
High-speed hypercar
Bugatti Chiron Super Sport
W16 Longer tail Top-speed focus
The Super Sport was the Chiron built for top speed, so it has a longer tail and more power. A modified Super Sport 300+ prototype became the first car to pass 300 mph in 2019. The last of all 500 Chirons was also a Super Sport.
What Is Bugatti Automobiles?
Bugatti Automobiles is a French maker of hypercars, and it is based in Molsheim, Alsace. Ettore Bugatti, an engineer born in Milan in 1881, founded the original company, Automobiles E. Bugatti, there in 1909. At that time Molsheim was part of the German Empire, and it only became French in 1919. His first production car was the small Type 13, which finished second in the 1911 French Grand Prix.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Bugatti won more than 1,000 races with the Type 35, while it also built luxury cars such as the Royale and the Type 57. However, Ettore’s son Jean was killed in 1939 while testing a race car, and Ettore died in 1947. As a result, the company had no clear successor, so car production had ended by 1952. It was then sold to Hispano-Suiza in 1963.
Later, Romano Artioli revived the name in 1987 and built the EB110 in Italy until 1995. The Volkswagen Group then bought the rights in 1998 and founded Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S., which brought production back to Molsheim with the Veyron in 2005. Since November 2021, Bugatti has been part of Bugatti Rimac, and Mate Rimac leads the company.
Bugatti Automobiles History
Bugatti Automobiles grew from a small factory in Alsace, then fell silent for decades before it returned as a maker of record-setting hypercars.
- 1909 Ettore Bugatti founds Automobiles E. Bugatti in Molsheim, which was then part of Germany.
- 1911 The small Type 13 takes second place in the French Grand Prix at Le Mans.
- 1921 Bugatti cars finish in the top four places at Brescia, so the Type 13 becomes known as the Brescia.
- 1924 The Type 35 is introduced, and it later wins more than 1,000 races.
- 1929 William Grover-Williams wins the first Monaco Grand Prix in a Type 35B, while Bugatti also wins the Targa Florio for the fifth year in a row.
- 1934 The Type 57, designed by Jean Bugatti, goes into production.
- 1939 Bugatti wins Le Mans for the second time, although Jean Bugatti is killed testing the winning car that August.
- 1963 After Ettore’s death in 1947 and the end of car production, the company is sold to Hispano-Suiza.
- 1991 Romano Artioli’s Bugatti Automobili unveils the EB110 near Paris, 110 years after Ettore’s birth.
- 1998 The Volkswagen Group buys the Bugatti name and founds Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. on 22 December.
- 2005 The Veyron 16.4 goes on sale, and it is verified at 408.47 km/h.
- 2016 The Chiron replaces the Veyron as the first road car with 1,500 PS.
- 2019 A Chiron Super Sport 300+ prototype reaches 490.48 km/h, so it becomes the first car to pass 300 mph.
- 2021 Bugatti joins Bugatti Rimac, a joint venture of Rimac Group and Porsche, in November.
- 2024 The 500th and final Chiron is finished, and then the V16 Tourbillon is revealed in June.
- 2026 The La Manufacture plant opens in Molsheim, and a HOF Capital consortium completes its purchase of Porsche’s stake in September.
Iconic Bugatti Models
These six cars built the name of Bugatti Automobiles, from its first small car to the hypercar that revived the brand.
1910–1920
Bugatti Type 13
First Bugatti 1.4-liter four
The Type 13 was Ettore Bugatti’s first production car, and it was small, light and quick. Later, its four-valve versions took the name Brescia after a clean sweep of the top four places there in 1921.
1924–1930
Bugatti Type 35
Grand Prix car Straight-eight
The Type 35 is one of the most successful racing cars ever built, because it won more than 1,000 races. It also won the first Monaco Grand Prix in 1929, as well as five Targa Florio races in a row.
1927–1933
Bugatti Royale
12.8-liter engine Only three sold
The Type 41 Royale was built for royalty, yet no king ever bought one. It is about 6.4 meters long, and its 12.8-liter straight-eight is one of the largest car engines ever made. Its spare engines later powered French railcars instead.
1930s
Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic
Four built Designed by Jean Bugatti
The Atlantic is the most famous version of the Type 57, which Jean Bugatti designed. Only four were built, and three are known to survive today.
1991–1995
Bugatti EB110
Quad-turbo V12 139 built
The EB110 brought the Bugatti name back after almost 40 years. It was built in Campogalliano, Italy, with a 3.5-liter quad-turbo V12. Michael Schumacher also owned a yellow EB110 Super Sport from 1994 until 2003.
2005–2015
Bugatti Veyron
1,001 PS 450 built
The Veyron was the first Bugatti built under Volkswagen, and its W16 engine made 1,001 PS. It is named after Pierre Veyron, who won Le Mans for Bugatti in 1939. In 2010 the Veyron Super Sport also reached 431.072 km/h.
Who Owns Bugatti Automobiles?
Bugatti Automobiles is part of Bugatti Rimac, which was set up in 2021 by Rimac Group and Porsche. When Porsche sold its stake in September 2026, a consortium led by HOF Capital took over its 45%, so Rimac Group keeps control with 55%. When AutoGathering has a page for a brand, its name below links to that page.
Parent Bugatti Rimac Rimac Group 55% · HOF Capital-led consortium 45% since September 2026
This page Bugatti Automobiles Molsheim, Alsace · Bugatti hypercars
Plant La Manufacture Tourbillon assembly building in Molsheim, opened in July 2026, for up to 200 cars a year
Program Programme Solitaire Coachbuilt one-off cars, up to two a year
Estate Château Saint Jean Historic Molsheim estate on whose grounds La Manufacture stands
Shareholders and related companies
Rimac Group, founded by Mate Rimac in Croatia, is the controlling shareholder, while BlueFive Capital is the largest investor in the HOF Capital consortium.
- Rimac Group (55%)
- Rimac Technology (Tier-1 supplier)
- HOF Capital consortium (45%)
- BlueFive Capital
In addition, the consortium bought Porsche’s stake of about a fifth in Rimac Group itself, so Porsche no longer holds any part of Bugatti.
Former owners
- Automobiles E. Bugatti (1909–1963) The original company, run by Ettore Bugatti until his death in 1947.
- Hispano-Suiza (1963) Bought the company after car production had ended and moved it into aircraft parts.
- Bugatti Automobili S.p.A. (1987–1995) Romano Artioli’s company, which built the EB110 in Italy until it went bankrupt.
- Volkswagen Group (1998–2021) Revived Bugatti in Molsheim and built the Veyron and the Chiron.
- Porsche (2021–2026) Held 45% of Bugatti Rimac until the sale to the HOF Capital consortium closed on 9 September 2026.
Bugatti Automobiles Accomplishments
The record of Bugatti Automobiles rests on speed, because its cars have set several top-speed records, as well as on its racing wins before World War II.
490.48 km/h
First car past 300 mph
A Chiron Super Sport 300+ prototype set the mark in 2019.
453.91 km/h
Fastest open-top car
The W16 Mistral set the roadster record in November 2024 at Papenburg, Germany.
431.072 km/h
Veyron Super Sport record
The Veyron Super Sport reached this speed in 2010, five years after the first Veyron.
1,000+
Type 35 race wins
The Type 35 won more than 1,000 races in the 1920s and early 1930s.
5
Targa Florio wins in a row
Bugatti won the Sicilian road race every year from 1925 until 1929.
2
Le Mans overall wins
Jean-Pierre Wimille won for Bugatti in 1937 and again in 1939.
500
Chirons built
Production ran from 2016 until 2024, when the final car, L’Ultime, was finished.
1,100+
Cars delivered since 2005
Bugatti has delivered more than 1,100 cars since the Veyron revived the brand.
Bugatti Racing History
Bugatti Automobiles did most of its racing before World War II, especially with the Type 35. For example, a Type 35B won the first Grand Prix at the Circuit de Monaco in 1929, while the Type 57 Tank later won twice at the Circuit de la Sarthe. Today the brand no longer runs a factory team, although owners of the Bolide drive it at events such as those at Circuit Paul Ricard.
Type 35 era
Bugatti in Grand Prix racing
1,000+ wins First Monaco GP
The Type 35 arrived in 1924, and soon it was one of the most successful racing cars of its time. William Grover-Williams then won the first Monaco Grand Prix in 1929 in a green Type 35B. Earlier, the small Type 13 had also finished second in the 1911 French Grand Prix.
Sicilian road race
Bugatti at the Targa Florio
5 wins in a row 1925–1929
The Targa Florio ran on mountain roads in Sicily, so it was one of the hardest races in Europe. Bugatti won it five years in a row, from 1925 until 1929, mostly with versions of the Type 35.
24 Hours of Le Mans
Bugatti at Le Mans
Wins in 1937 and 1939 Type 57 Tank
Bugatti won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1937 with a streamlined Type 57 known as the Tank. Jean-Pierre Wimille then won again in 1939, when he shared the car with Pierre Veyron. However, Jean Bugatti was killed testing that car only weeks later.
Talk Bugatti With Other Enthusiasts
Bugatti fans cover more than a century of cars, from pre-war Type 35 racers to the new Tourbillon. Soon, AutoGathering will connect this page to a Bugatti community space where owners and enthusiasts can share history, spotting photos and event plans.
- Pre-war Bugattis
- Type 35 and racing history
- Veyron and Chiron
- Tourbillon news
- EB110 era
- Concours and events
- Hypercar spotting
- Restoration and parts
Bugatti Automobiles FAQ
Who founded Bugatti Automobiles?
Ettore Bugatti, an engineer born in Milan in 1881, founded the original company in Molsheim in 1909. However, the modern Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. was founded by the Volkswagen Group on 22 December 1998.
Who owns Bugatti Automobiles?
Bugatti Automobiles belongs to Bugatti Rimac. Since September 2026, Rimac Group has owned 55% of Bugatti Rimac, while a consortium led by HOF Capital owns the other 45%, which it bought from Porsche.
Is Bugatti still owned by Volkswagen?
No. Volkswagen owned Bugatti from 1998 until 2021, when the brand moved into Bugatti Rimac. Porsche, a Volkswagen Group company, then held 45% until it sold that stake in 2026.
Where are Bugatti cars made?
Bugatti cars are built by hand in Molsheim, Alsace, France. In July 2026, Bugatti also opened La Manufacture there, a new building for the Tourbillon with room for up to 200 cars a year.
How much does the Bugatti Tourbillon cost?
The Tourbillon costs 3.8 million euros, or about 4.1 million US dollars, before options. Only 250 will be built, and production began in 2026.
What is the fastest Bugatti?
The fastest Bugatti so far is a Chiron Super Sport 300+ prototype, which reached 490.48 km/h (304.77 mph) in 2019. In addition, the W16 Mistral holds the open-top record at 453.91 km/h.
Is Bugatti French or Italian?
Bugatti is a French brand, because it has always been based in Molsheim, Alsace. However, its founder Ettore Bugatti was born in Italy, and the EB110 was built in Italy between 1991 and 1995.
How many Bugatti Veyrons were made?
Bugatti built 450 Veyrons between 2005 and 2015, including coupes, Grand Sport roadsters and the faster Super Sport and Vitesse versions. After that, 500 Chirons followed.
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Photo credits
- Header image: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Bugatti Tourbillon on display at the 2024…: MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Bugatti W16 Mistral roadster at the 2024…: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Black 2025 Bugatti Bolide track car at…: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Bugatti F.K.P. Hommage one-off, the second Programme…: Charles from Port Chester, New York, CC0, cropped and resized.
- Bugatti Chiron at Salon Privé 2022: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- White Bugatti Chiron Super Sport at the…: MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- 1924 Bugatti Type 13 at the 2021…: MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- 1924 Bugatti Type 35 racing at the…: Lothar Spurzem, CC BY-SA 2.0 de, cropped and resized.
- Black and blue Bugatti Royale Coupe Napoleon…: Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic at the 2024…: Francisco Antunes from Manchester, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- 1995 Bugatti EB110 SS in Blu Bugatti: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped and resized.
- Black Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport on…: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, cropped and resized.
- 1927 Bugatti Type 35C Grand Prix racing…: Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- Giulio Foresti in a Bugatti Type 35B…: Agence de presse Meurisse, Public domain, cropped and resized.
- Bugatti Type 57 Tank that won the…: Arnaud 25, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.