Bugatti’s Bscher Out: Veyron Plus None

The Wall Street Journal confirms that Bugatti’s head Thomas Bscher has resigned.

Bscher had been head of the Volkswagen Group’s most exclusive brand. His departure comes on the heels of that of Wolfgang Bernhard, once thought to be in line to be chairman of Germany’s largest automaker.

Bscher took over the helm of the Bugatti project during a time when the car was in development hell, over budget and nowhere near launch. Last year, after a long-awaited introduction, the Veyron finally went on sale for more than $1.3 million a copy. Bscher, a former Formula 1 driver, delivered a machine that is capable of 250 mph and has 987 hp.

Bugatti still has but one model, the Veyron, to sell. Bscher apparently had been pressing management to add a second product line — but with ambitious expansions at Bentley and Lamborghini underway, VW management are said to have had little intent to push the stratospheric Bugatti brand downmarket. Recently, Porsche AG president and VW board member Wendelin Wiedeking told the press that "One rule we have to follow in the future is that every product has to make money,” obviously ignoring years of established principle at the VW Group.

Bugatti has begun studying a Veyron replacement but Bscher's departure will no doubt delay talk of a next Veyron, which ends production soon.

Bugatti Studying Veyron Replacement--TheCarConnection.com

Bugatti Chief Bscher Steps Down- Wall Street Journal

See the Veyron at top-speed action on Top Gear:
Enlarge Photo The Wall Street Journal confirms that Bugatti’s head Thomas Bscher has resigned. Bscher had been head of the Volkswagen Group’s most exclusive brand. His departure comes on the heels of that of Wolfgang Bernhard, once thought to be in line to be chairman of Germany’s largest automaker. Bscher took over the helm of the Bugatti project during a time when the car was in development hell, over budget and nowhere near launch. Last year, after a long-awaited introduction, the Veyron finally went on sale for more than $1.3 million a copy. Bscher, a former Formula 1 driver, delivered a machine that is capable of 250 mph and has 987 hp. Bugatti still has but one model, the Veyron, to sell. Bscher apparently had been pressing management to add a second product line — but with ambitious expansions at Bentley and Lamborghini underway, VW management are said to have had little intent to push the stratospheric Bugatti brand downmarket. Recently, Porsche AG president and VW board member Wendelin Wiedeking told the press that "One rule we have to follow in the future is that every product has to make money,” obviously ignoring years of established principle at the VW Group. Bugatti has begun studying a Veyron replacement but Bscher's departure will no doubt delay talk of a next Veyron, which ends production soon. Bugatti Studying Veyron Replacement--TheCarConnection.com Bugatti Chief Bscher Steps Down- Wall Street Journal See the Veyron at top-speed action on Top Gear: