Bugatti Rimac vs Porsche: Founders, CEOs and History
Bugatti Rimac was founded in 2021 by Mate Rimac, Ettore Bugatti and is led by Mate Rimac. Porsche was founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche, Ferry Porsche and is led by Michael Leiters.
Company facts
Bugatti Rimac
- Founded
- 2021
- Headquarters
- Sveta Nedelja, Zagreb County, Croatia
- Current CEO
- Mate Rimac
Porsche
- Founded
- 1931
- Headquarters
- Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Germany
- Current CEO
- Michael Leiters
- Employees
- 41,780
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.
Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche (1875-1951) founded Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche GmbH in Stuttgart in 1931 as a design consultancy. The office designed the Auto Union Grand Prix cars and the Volkswagen Beetle.
Ferry Porsche
Ferry Porsche (1909-1998) built the 356, the first car sold under the Porsche name, in 1948 and led the company as it became a sports-car manufacturer, overseeing the launch of the 911 in 1963. He later served as chairman of the supervisory board.
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
Porsche
- Dr. Oliver Blume2015–2025
Chairman of the Executive Board (CEO)
Blume's tenure covered record results in 2022-2023, the Taycan launch and the 2022 IPO. The EV-heavy plan set under him proved costly, and the 2025 reversal left his successor a turnaround.
Source - Dr. Jochen Breckner2025–present
Member of the Executive Board for Finance and IT (CFO)
Oversees cost reduction and cash flow during the 2026 reset; H1 2026 automotive net cash flow was about $1.15 billion (EUR1.02 billion).
Source - Dr. Michael Leiters2026–present
Chairman of the Executive Board (CEO)
He took over after 2025 operating profit fell to ~$467 million (EUR413 million). In 2026 he has pursued a 'value over volume' plan, a 'Future Package' with about $2.37 billion (EUR2.1 billion) of site investment through 2035 and roughly 5,000 job reductions by…
Source
Timeline: Bugatti Rimac and Porsche side by side
1931Porsche
Porsche Engineering Office Founded
Ferdinand Porsche founded the engineering consultancy in Stuttgart.
1948Porsche
Porsche 356 Built
Ferry Porsche led production of the first Porsche-branded sports car, using the rear-engine, air-cooled layout that would define the brand.
1963Porsche
911 Introduced
Porsche introduced the 911, the model that became the brand's central sports-car icon and remains its defining product line today.
2002Porsche
Cayenne Launch
The Cayenne SUV created a new profit engine and broadened Porsche's customer base beyond sports-car buyers.
2019Porsche
Taycan Launch
Porsche launched the Taycan as its first dedicated battery-electric vehicle.
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.
2022Porsche
Porsche AG IPO
Porsche AG listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under CEO Oliver Blume, who simultaneously ran parent Volkswagen Group.
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…
2025Porsche
Profit Collapses on EV Writedown
Porsche reworked its EV-first product plan; full-year operating profit fell to ~$467 million (EUR413 million) on revenue of ~$41 billion (EUR36.27 billion), with China deliveries down 26%.
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).
2026Porsche
Michael Leiters Becomes CEO
Dr. Michael Leiters became Chairman of the Executive Board effective January 1, 2026, ending Oliver Blume's dual role running both Porsche and Volkswagen Group.
2026Porsche
H1 2026 Profit Recovery and Future Package
First-half operating profit rose 34% to ~$1.53 billion (EUR1.35 billion); Porsche outlined about $2.37 billion (EUR2.1 billion) of site investment and around 5,000 job reductions by the mid-2030s.
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
Porsche
- Fazua2022Undisclosed
- Bugatti Rimac (joint venture stake)2021Undisclosed
Questions about Bugatti Rimac vs Porsche
Who is the CEO of Bugatti Rimac and Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG?
Bugatti Rimac is led by Mate Rimac and Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG is led by Michael Leiters. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Bugatti Rimac founded vs Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG?
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG was founded in 1931 — 90 years before Bugatti Rimac, which was founded in 2021. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Bugatti Rimac.
How many employees does Bugatti Rimac have compared to Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG?
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG employs approximately 41,780 people. A verified employee count for Bugatti Rimac is not currently available.
Where are Bugatti Rimac and Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG headquartered?
Bugatti Rimac is headquartered in Croatia and Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG is headquartered in Germany. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Bugatti Rimac and Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG?
Bugatti Rimac was founded by Mate Rimac, Ettore Bugatti. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG was founded by Ferdinand Porsche, Ferry Porsche.
Which company has a longer operating history — Bugatti Rimac or Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG?
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG has been operating for approximately 95 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 Porsche overview