Bugatti Rimac vs Lamborghini: Founders, CEOs and History
Bugatti Rimac was founded in 2021 by Mate Rimac, Ettore Bugatti and is led by Mate Rimac. Lamborghini was founded in 1963 by Ferruccio Lamborghini and is led by Stephan Winkelmann.
Company facts
Bugatti Rimac
- Founded
- 2021
- Headquarters
- Sveta Nedelja, Zagreb County, Croatia
- Current CEO
- Mate Rimac
Lamborghini
- Founded
- 1963
- Headquarters
- Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy
- Current CEO
- Stephan Winkelmann
Founders
Bugatti Rimac
Mate Rimac
Mate Rimac is a Croatian entrepreneur, born in Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina, who grew up partly in Germany before settling in Croatia.
Ettore Bugatti
Ettore Bugatti (1881 to 1947) was an Italian-born car designer who founded Automobiles E. Bugatti in Molsheim, Alsace, in 1909.
Lamborghini
Ferruccio Lamborghini
Ferruccio Lamborghini (1916-1993) was born in Renazzo, near Ferrara, to a farming family. He served as a mechanic with the Italian air force in World War II, then built Lamborghini Trattori into a major tractor maker using surplus military equipment.
CEOs and their tenures
Bugatti Rimac
- Stephan Winkelmann2018–2021
President of Bugatti (before the joint venture)
Led Bugatti under Volkswagen Group until the Rimac joint venture, then continued at Lamborghini.
Source - Mate Rimac2021–present
Chief Executive Officer; President of Bugatti Automobiles from September 2026
Leads both the Rimac Nevera and the Bugatti Tourbillon programmes, and founded and still runs Rimac Group as founder and president.
Source - Christophe Piochon2021–2026
President of Bugatti Automobiles and Chief Operating Officer of Bugatti Rimac
Spent 24 years at Bugatti, from quality director during the Veyron launch to president. Molsheim grew from about 70 staff in 2013 to nearly 200. He steps down with the 2026 leadership change and leaves on 31 October 2026.
Source - Hendrik Malinowski2021–present
Managing Director of Bugatti Automobiles; Chief Commercial Officer from 2026
Leads Bugatti's sales and customer side as the Tourbillon moves to deliveries.
Source - Marko Brkljačić2026–present
Chief Operating Officer
Takes over the operating role previously held by Christophe Piochon.
Source
Lamborghini
- Franz-Josef Paefgen1999–2001
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. from 1999 to 2001.
Source - Giuseppe Greco2001–2005
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. from 2001 to 2005.
Source - Stefano Domenicali2016–2020
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. from 2016 to 2020.
Source - Stephan Winkelmann2020–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Winkelmann has led Lamborghini through the Direzione Cor Tauri hybrid transition, record deliveries of 10,747 cars in 2025, and the 2026 decision to turn the Lanzador into a plug-in hybrid. During his first tenure (2005-2016) sales more than doubled.
Source
Timeline: Bugatti Rimac and Lamborghini side by side
1963Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini Founded
Ferruccio Lamborghini establishes the sports car company in Sant'Agata Bolognese, determined to out-build Ferrari after a personal insult from Enzo Ferrari.
1966Lamborghini
Miura Defines the Supercar
The Miura establishes the mid-engine supercar formula and Lamborghini's design mythology.
1998Lamborghini
Audi Acquisition
Audi (Volkswagen Group) acquires Lamborghini from Indonesian ownership group V'Power and Megatech for about $110 million, giving the brand engineering, quality, and capital support.
2005Lamborghini
Stephan Winkelmann's First Tenure as CEO Begins
Winkelmann becomes CEO for a 11-year run during which sales more than double and revenue more than triples.
2018Lamborghini
Urus Launch
The Urus turns Lamborghini into a higher-volume ultra-luxury performance brand without fully abandoning supercar scarcity.
2020Lamborghini
Winkelmann Returns as Chairman and CEO
Stephan Winkelmann returns to Lamborghini as Chairman and CEO on December 1, 2020, after leading Audi Sport and Bugatti.
2021Bugatti Rimac
Bugatti Rimac begins operating: Rimac Group and Porsche AG launch Bugatti Rimac in November 2021, with Rimac Group holding 55 percent and Porsche 45 percent.
2022Bugatti Rimac
Berlin design and engineering hub: Bugatti Rimac announces a Berlin hub run by a new German subsidiary, Bugatti Rimac GmbH, while keeping its headquarters and most staff in Croatia.
2022Bugatti Rimac
W16 Mistral unveiled: Bugatti shows the W16 Mistral at Monterey Car Week, a roadster limited to 99 cars and the last road car built around the W16 engine.
2023Bugatti Rimac
Nevera sets 23 records in one day: The Rimac Nevera sets 23 acceleration and braking records in a single day at Automotive Testing Papenburg, including 0-400-0 km/h in 29.93 seconds.
2023Bugatti Rimac
Nevera production-EV Nürburgring record: The Nevera laps the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7:05.298, a record for a production electric car.
2024Bugatti Rimac
Bugatti Tourbillon unveiled: Bugatti unveils the Tourbillon in Molsheim on 20 June 2024: a naturally aspirated 8.3-litre V16 engineered with Cosworth plus three electric motors for 1,800 PS, limited t…
2024Bugatti Rimac
Rimac Campus phase one complete: Rimac Group completes phase one of the Rimac Campus in Sveta Nedelja, a 75,000 m² production facility within a 100,000 m² site, with production already under way.
2025Bugatti Rimac
Bugatti's highest-volume year: Bugatti builds more cars than in any previous year, begins W16 Mistral deliveries, delivers the final Bolide and starts Tourbillon customer configurations.
2025Bugatti Rimac
Programme Solitaire and the Brouillard: Bugatti launches Programme Solitaire in August 2025, limited to two one-off cars a year, and shows its first creation, the Brouillard coupé, at Monterey Car Wee…
2025Lamborghini
Record 2025 Results
Lamborghini reports ~$3.62 billion (EUR3.20 billion) in turnover, ~$868 million (EUR768 million) in operating income, and 10,747 deliveries.
2026Bugatti Rimac
Porsche agrees to sell its stakes: On 24 April 2026 Porsche signs agreements to sell its 45 percent of Bugatti Rimac and 20.6 percent of Rimac Group to a consortium led by HOF Capital.
2026Bugatti Rimac
La Manufacture opens in Molsheim: Bugatti inaugurates La Manufacture on 2 July 2026, a 3,245 m² building for Tourbillon production that raises capacity to up to 200 cars a year.
2026Bugatti Rimac
Porsche exit completed, new leadership: The sale closes on 9 September 2026 for about $1.13 billion (€1 billion).
2026Lamborghini
Record H1 Revenue, Lower Profit
H1 2026 revenue rises 7.4% to ~$1.97 billion (EUR 1.74 billion); operating profit falls to ~$446 million (EUR 395 million) as tariffs and currency weigh.
Acquisitions
Bugatti Rimac
- Porsche's 45% stake in Bugatti Rimac (bought by a HOF Capital-led consortium)2026$1.2B
- Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. (contributed to the Bugatti Rimac joint venture)2021Undisclosed
Lamborghini
- Ducati Motor Holding2012$747M
- Italdesign Giugiaro (90.1% stake)2010Undisclosed
- Lamborghini (by Audi AG / Volkswagen Group)1998$110M
- Chrysler Corporation1987Undisclosed
- Georges-Henri Rossetti (51% stake)1972Undisclosed
Questions about Bugatti Rimac vs Lamborghini
Who is the CEO of Bugatti Rimac and Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.?
Bugatti Rimac is led by Mate Rimac and Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. is led by Stephan Winkelmann. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Bugatti Rimac founded vs Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.?
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. was founded in 1963 — 58 years before Bugatti Rimac, which was founded in 2021. Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Bugatti Rimac.
Where are Bugatti Rimac and Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. headquartered?
Bugatti Rimac is headquartered in Croatia and Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. is headquartered in Italy. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Bugatti Rimac and Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.?
Bugatti Rimac was founded by Mate Rimac, Ettore Bugatti. Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. was founded by Ferruccio Lamborghini.
Which company has a longer operating history — Bugatti Rimac or Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.?
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. has been operating for approximately 63 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Bugatti Rimac has been in operation for around 5 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Bugatti Rimac vs Lamborghini overview