The birth story of Bugatti: The bitter story of Ettore Bugatti

However, he decided to build his company in the Alsace region between Germany and France. When the region passed from German domination to the French, the Bugatti brand began to be known as a French super sports automotive giant, even though it has cosmopolitan origins.

Ettore Bugatti, the creator of the Bugatti brand, came from a family of designers and artists. As such, the designs of the cars produced under the Bugatti brand were also very eye-catching. At the same time, the parts of the cars were assembled one by one by hand. When design success was combined with quality, it didn't take long for success to come.

Ettore Arco Isidoro Bugatti (15 September 1881 – 21 August 1947) was an Italian-born French automobile designer and manufacturer. He is remembered as the founder and proprietor of the automobile manufacturing company Automobiles E. Bugatti, which he founded in 1909 in the then German town of Molsheim in the Alsace region of what is now France. Bugatti died in Paris and is buried in Dorlisheim in the Bas-Rhin (Lower Rhine) department of today's France.

The brand made a big splash in the 1930s with iconic models such as the Bugatti Type 59 Grand Prix and Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic. Bugatti models that marked this period adorned the roads and runways. However, World War II, which started in Europe, affected Bugatti deeply, as it affected every brand and sector. The brand, whose facilities were badly damaged as a result of the attack of the Germans in France, made great efforts to recover.

The Bugatti company struggled to stay afloat during and after World War II by producing aircraft parts as well as automobiles. However, economic problems were increasing. In this period, Ettore Bugatti, who lost his son Jean Bugatti on a test drive at an early age, could not overcome the difficulties he experienced. Ettore Bugatti, whose aircraft factory and automobile factory were in trouble, was considering making a final move and launching a new vehicle. However, his life was not enough and he passed away in 1947. After his death, although there were several attempts to keep the Bugatti brand alive, not many successful projects emerged. Bugatti, struggling to survive with partnerships as a small company producing aircraft parts, was only able to find the value it deserved in 1998. German giant Volkswagen bought Bugatti and turned it into an active player in the sector again.

The Veyron, the first Bugatti model produced under the VW umbrella, achieved legendary success and turned into one of the world's most iconic sports cars. Models such as the Bugatti Chiron, Bugatti Centodieci, and Bugatti Divo followed in the footsteps of the Veyron. Bugatti models are considered one of the most expensive and luxurious sports cars in the world today. Prices ranging from $4 million to $20 million prove this claim.