If you still think the Volkswagen Group owns Bugatti, you're living in 2020. Honestly, most people are. For decades, the script was simple: VW bought the dead French brand in 1998, built the Veyron, lost a few million dollars on every car sold, and used it as a massive, high-speed trophy.
Things changed. Fast.
Today, the answer to who owns bugatti company is a complex, high-stakes jigsaw puzzle involving a Croatian tech prodigy, a legendary German sports car maker, and a whole lot of corporate maneuvering.
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The New King: Bugatti Rimac
The brand is currently controlled by a joint venture called Bugatti Rimac. It’s not just a fancy name change. It was a seismic shift in the automotive world that happened in late 2021.
Here is the breakdown of the "Big Two" shareholders:
- Rimac Group holds a 55% majority stake.
- Porsche AG holds the remaining 45% stake.
Basically, a company that started in a garage in Croatia now calls the shots for the most prestigious car brand in history. It sounds like a movie script. Mate Rimac, the founder of Rimac, is the CEO of this combined entity. He's 37. While most CEOs are looking at spreadsheets in gray suits, he’s usually seen testing the new $4 million Bugatti Tourbillon on frozen lakes in Sweden.
Wait, Does Volkswagen Still Have a Hand in This?
Technically, yes, but it’s indirect. It’s a "layers of an onion" situation.
Porsche AG is a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group. So, through Porsche’s 45% stake, VW still has a seat at the table. But they don't run the day-to-day. They don't decide what the next engine looks like.
To make it weirder, Porsche also owns about 24% of the Rimac Group itself. If you do the math, Porsche (and by extension, VW) actually has a massive financial interest in everything Mate Rimac touches.
The 2026 Plot Twist: Mate Rimac Wants It All
As of early 2026, the water is getting even choppier. Late last year, reports surfaced that Mate Rimac has placed a preliminary offer on the table to buy out Porsche’s 45% stake.
He’s looking for total independence.
The offer is reportedly valued at over $1.1 billion. Why? Because Mate is tired of explaining his "crazy" ideas to 50 different board members. He wants to move at the speed of a startup, not the speed of a German conglomerate. If this deal goes through by the end of 2026, the Volkswagen Group will be completely removed from Bugatti's ownership for the first time in nearly 30 years.
Why the Ownership Change Actually Matters to You
You might think, "Who cares who signs the checks as long as the cars are fast?"
It matters because of the technology. Under VW, Bugatti was the king of the internal combustion engine—the legendary W16. But the world is going electric, and VW didn't quite know how to make a "Bugatti-level" EV.
The Hybrid Revolution
Rimac is the world leader in high-performance battery tech. By handing the keys to Mate Rimac, Bugatti got a lifeline. The result? The Bugatti Tourbillon.
Instead of going full electric (which Mate actually blocked because he felt it wasn't right for the brand yet), they built a hybrid with a V16 engine and Rimac’s electric motors. It’s 1,800 horsepower of "best of both worlds." This ownership structure saved the soul of the brand while keeping it legal in a world of strict emissions laws.
Misconceptions People Still Believe
- "Bugatti is Italian." Nope. Founded by an Italian, but it's a French company based in Molsheim.
- "It's just a Rebadged Rimac." Absolutely not. The Tourbillon and the Rimac Nevera share almost zero parts. They are separate beasts with the same "parents."
- "The French Government owns it." They wish. They provide some support for the Molsheim facility, but they have zero equity.
What’s Next for the Molsheim Brand?
If you’re tracking the future of the company, keep your eyes on the negotiations between Croatia and Stuttgart. If Mate Rimac successfully buys out Porsche, expect Bugatti to get even weirder and more exclusive. We are talking about a shift toward "analog" luxury—no screens, more mechanical watches in the dashboard, and perhaps a complete departure from the "corporate" feel of the 2010s.
Actionable Insights for Enthusiasts and Investors:
- Watch the Buyout: If Rimac acquires 100% control, the brand's valuation will likely skyrocket as it prepares for a potential IPO later this decade.
- The "Final" ICE Models: Any Bugatti with a combustion engine produced under the current "Bugatti Rimac" era is likely to be a massive collector's item, as the shift toward full electrification is inevitable post-2030.
- Check the VIN: Newer models are being developed in Zagreb but still assembled in Molsheim. That "Made in France" stamp is the company's most valuable asset.
The era of Bugatti being a "VW side project" is dead. It’s now a tech-driven powerhouse led by a guy who used to drift a rusted-out BMW in his backyard. That’s the reality of who owns Bugatti today.
To stay updated on the Porsche-Rimac buyout negotiations, you should monitor the quarterly financial reports from Porsche AG and the official Rimac Group press room. The finalization of the $1.1 billion offer will likely be the biggest automotive business story of 2026.