Bugatti Chief Bscher Steps Down

[parkcitytom]

The head of Volkswagen AG's luxury Bugatti sports-car unit is stepping down, becoming the latest high-level executive at the auto maker to quit his post following the resignation of Chief Executive Bernd Pischetsrieder late last year.


A spokesman for Bugatti said Sunday that its president, Thomas Bscher, had submitted his letter of resignation within the past few days, confirming a report in the German magazine Der Spiegel that Mr. Bscher intended to leave his post. Mr. Bscher's resignation comes two months after the resignation of Wolfgang Bernhard. Mr. Bernhard -- a former member of Volkswagen's management board with responsibility for its core Volkswagen brand -- left the auto maker at the end of January.


"He's done a good job," the Bugatti spokesman, Georges Keller said of Mr. Bscher. "He took the [Bugatti] project over when it was in trouble, and he took the whole thing on and put the car on the road. It's like in football. If you're going to retire, you want to do so when you're on top."


With a top speed of over 250 miles per hour and a price tag of around €1 million ($1.3 million), Bugatti's Veyron sports car has been a difficult project for Volkswagen management. Championed by Volkswagen's chairman, Ferdinand Piech, the car's development was plagued for years by technical problems and cost overruns, prompting Mr. Mr. Pischetsrieder -- who succeeded Mr. Piech as Volkswagen CEO in 2002 -- to recruit Mr. Bscher, a former Formula 1 race-car driver, to take charge of the project in 2003.

Although Bugatti has begun delivering Veyrons to customers, its future product plans are unclear. At the North American International Auto Show in January, Porsche AG CEO Wendelin Wiedeking told reporters that Volkswagen shouldn't subsidize any "toys." Mr. Wiedeking is a member of Volkswagen's supervisory board, and his company is Volkswagen's largest shareholder.


"One rule we have to follow in the future is that every product has to make money," Mr. Wiedeking said.

Mr. Bscher couldn't be reached for comment Sunday.

ParkCityTom: $1.3M ?? YIKES!!


Tom

[Gustav]

That is interesting. And I wodner what the future is for Bugatti after the Veyron, what car that will come then?

[Steph]

Weren't they to build a 1200hp model ?

[BBlair13]

Originally Posted by parkcitytom

"He's done a good job," the Bugatti spokesman, Georges Keller said of Mr. Bscher. "He took the [Bugatti] project over when it was in trouble, and he took the whole thing on and put the car on the road. It's like in football. If you're going to retire, you want to do so when you're on top."

At least he did retire on top, most definitely creating one of the greatest cars of all time. I only wish that I would someday have the chance to drive a car like the veyron.

[Gop-Dogg]

Originally Posted by parkcitytom

Although Bugatti has begun delivering Veyrons to customers, its future product plans are unclear. At the North American International Auto Show in January, Porsche AG CEO Wendelin Wiedeking told reporters that Volkswagen shouldn't subsidize any "toys." Mr. Wiedeking is a member of Volkswagen's supervisory board, and his company is Volkswagen's largest shareholder.


"One rule we have to follow in the future is that every product has to make money," Mr. Wiedeking said.

Well, that lends some credence to the rumor that Porsche's got more than a little sour grapes about now being party to the company that rendered its own supercar yesterday's news.