The Volkswagen Group is about to sell Bugatti to Rimac. Sources within the group report this to the British Car Magazine. With this deal, Volkswagen is reportedly looking to acquire a larger share in Rimac, which has grown with the development of advanced electric powertrains. It would mean a significant turnaround in the course of the German concern.
Rimac and Volkswagen already have a certain relationship with each other. In 2018, Porsche took a 10 percent interest in the Croatian brand, and then expanded it to 15.5 percent in 2019. This development shows that Volkswagen’s interest in Rimac is considerable. But it is not enough yet. Sign up sources within the brand Car Magazine that a deal was approved last week whereby Bugatti will be transferred to Rimac via Porsche, in exchange for a larger share in the EV company. Founder Mate Rimac himself owns 51 percent of the shares. For Porsche – and with it the Volkswagen Group – the goal is presumably to acquire the other 49 percent of the shares. That would mean that the Volkswagen Group would gain access to the know how from Rimac in the field of electric powertrains.
A favorable deal for Volkswagen, which has changed course considerably in recent years. The focus of the current management is entirely on electrification, digitization and autonomous driving. Under the late Ferdinand Piëch, the sale of Bugatti, which can be seen as the brainchild of the former CEO, would probably never have taken place. Volkswagen is currently focusing on a different area. Moreover, the group will have to act quickly, because several parties are looking to cooperate with Rimac. Therefore, the sale of Bugatti seems like a logical move. Rimac thus acquires the brand rights and infrastructure of Bugatti, which could be perfect for the production of the C_TWO, the brand’s already unveiled hypercar.
More news to come?
Bugatti is not the only brand that is on the kick seat at Volkswagen. Lamborghini, Seat, Bentley, ItalDesign and Ducati are also reportedly under the magnifying glass. It illustrates the drastic change of course that Volkswagen has recently initiated. Less than ten years ago, Wolfsburg was actually out to add as many (prestigious) brands to the portfolio as possible. Seat, according to speculation, will continue under the care of Cupra, which will become the leading brand of the two. Little is known about the future of the other brands. The sale of the bigger brands will also become much more complicated than the Bugatti deal, which is forged on the ‘quid pro quo’ principle. Bugatti itself also has plans for an electric hypercar, which according to insiders gets green light in October. Bugatti Netherlands does not respond to the rumors after questions from Techzle.