Dr Thomas Bscher is to become the new head of Volkswagen’s Bugatti brand in December.
Dr Thomas Bscher is to become the new head of Volkswagen’s Bugatti brand in December.
Bscher replaces Karl-Heinz Neumann, who will retire at the end of this year after 38 years. Neumann was fired by group chairman Bernd Pischetsreider in August following delays with the Bugatti EB Veyron 16.4.
Volkswagen bought the Bugatti trademark in June 1998 for a reported R158 million and about a year later, a concept of the Veyron was shown at the 1999 Tokyo Motor Show.
The new Bugatti EB16·4 Veyron 16-cylinder engine, with a top speed of 406 km/h and destined to become the world’s fastest production car, was developed under Neumann’s management.
Originally due to go into production earlier this year, the Veyron appears unlikely to reach customers until next August – 12 months behind schedule. Problems with the reliability of the Veyron’s eight-litre W16 engine and seven-speed gearbox were said to be behind the launch delay.