Bugatti is a French automotive manufacturer that is renowned for producing some of the world’s most luxurious and exquisite looking cars. The company is renowned not only for its high-performance cars but also for its commitment to the environment. Founded in 1909 by Italian-born Ettore Bugatti, the company has been owned by a few different entities over the years. In 2023, Bugatti is owned by Volkswagen Group and has been since 1998.
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History of Bugatti Ownership
Bugatti was first established in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, France by Ettore Bugatti who wanted to create cars that combined beauty, performance, and reliability. The first models were introduced in 1910 and were a combination of racing cars, grand touring cars, and even some limousines. The company was hugely successful and, by the mid-1920s, they had become one of the most successful luxury automotive manufacturers in the world. However, after Ettore Bugatti’s death in 1947, the company’s fortunes declined and, in the 1950s, it was sold to a French industrialist. In the 1960s, the company was taken over by Italian industrialist Romano Artioli and he was the owner until 1998 when Volkswagen Group purchased the company.
Volkswagen Group Ownership
In 1998, Volkswagen Group purchased Bugatti from Romano Artioli and has remained the owner ever since. Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automotive manufacturing company that is the parent company of numerous automotive brands including Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Volkswagen. Since taking over Bugatti, Volkswagen Group has invested heavily in the company and has focused on creating high-performance cars that are also environmentally friendly. They have also been committed to maintaining the company’s luxury image and have done this by introducing limited edition models and collaborating with luxury fashion houses.
Bugatti’s Current Models
Bugatti currently offers two main models: the Chiron and the Divo. The Chiron is the company’s flagship supercar and is powered by a quad-turbocharged 8.0-litre W16 engine that can produce up to 1,500 horsepower. The Chiron also features a carbon fibre body, ceramic brakes, and a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission. The Divo is an even more extreme version of the Chiron and is designed for track driving. It has the same engine as the Chiron but has been tuned to produce up to 1,600 horsepower and has a top speed of 236 mph. The Divo also has a modified suspension system and a more aerodynamic body than the Chiron.
Bugatti’s Commitment to the Environment
Despite its focus on performance, Bugatti has also been committed to creating cars that are environmentally friendly. In 2020, they announced that all of their cars would be powered by electric motors and they have also been investing in research and development to create cars that are more efficient and have a lower carbon footprint. This commitment has been recognised by the automotive industry and Bugatti has won numerous awards for its environmentally friendly cars.
Conclusion
In 2023, Bugatti is owned by Volkswagen Group and has been since 1998. Since then, Volkswagen Group has invested heavily in the company and has focused on creating high-performance cars that are also environmentally friendly. They have also been committed to maintaining the company’s luxury image and have done this by introducing limited edition models and collaborating with luxury fashion houses. Bugatti currently offers two main models: the Chiron and the Divo and they are both powered by electric motors. Despite its focus on performance, Bugatti has also been committed to creating cars that are environmentally friendly and has won numerous awards for its efforts.
