Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac’s Chiron Stolen After Keys Left Inside
In an unusual security breach, Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti Rimac, experienced the theft of his personal Bugatti Chiron after inadvertently leaving the keys inside the car. The incident occurred on October 28 at the Bugatti Rimac campus near Zagreb, Croatia, turning into a significant cross-border recovery operation across multiple countries.
Incident Details and Police Pursuit
The theft took place on the company grounds, which operate without traditional perimeter fencing. It’s reportedly been common practice among employees to leave keys inside high-performance vehicles like the Chiron and Rimac Nevera, facilitating easy movement and testing. However, this procedure backfired when a visitor, reportedly a Croatian man seeking work, noticed the keys left inside and took the opportunity to steal the vehicle.
The irregularity was initially unnoticed because staff often use the cars interchangeably. The theft was confirmed after an eyewitness spotted an unfamiliar driver. Rimac and his team quickly accessed the car’s live telemetry data to track its real-time position, speed, and fuel status as the vehicle made its way through Croatia towards Slovenia and Austria.
Using the tracking data, Rimac personally followed the pursuit in his Porsche 911, while law enforcement coordinated across the involved countries. The stolen Chiron, known for its powerful 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine delivering approximately 1,500 PS, was eventually intercepted by Austrian police near Graz and the suspect detained.
Significance and Aftermath
Despite the Chiron’s limited fuel economy, the thief stopped to refuel and drove on, extending the chase. The car suffered minor damage but was promptly recovered. Rimac, speaking after meeting the suspect, indicated he does not intend to press private charges, though legal proceedings are expected to continue due to the vehicle’s high value and international nature of the theft.
This incident is particularly ironic considering Rimac’s role at the forefront of high-tech automotive innovation, including leading Bugatti Rimac—a company famed for integrating advanced electric drivetrains, sophisticated electronics, and cutting-edge telemetry systems in their vehicles. Just days prior, Rimac had delivered the first customer Bugatti Rimac Nevera to a prominent British-Pakistani collector, underlining the stark contrast between high-tech security and the simplicity of leaving keys inside.
Context and Impact for Pakistani Readers
Bugatti holds a revered place in the world of exotic supercars and hypercars, with the Chiron being one of the rarest and most collectible models globally. Though Bugatti has no official dealership in Pakistan, cars from this marque are aspirational symbols for automotive enthusiasts and collectors. This episode underscores a fundamental lesson about vehicle security that transcends borders and model sophistication.
For local car owners and enthusiasts in Pakistan, the story is a reminder that no matter how advanced vehicle technology becomes, basic security practices—like safeguarding keys—are irreplaceable. It also highlights how even premium vehicles are vulnerable if fundamental precautions are overlooked, a take-away relevant to owners of all types of automobiles.
Following the incident, Rimac confirmed that the practice of leaving keys in vehicles on their campus will be discontinued, reflecting a shift toward more stringent security measures even in highly technological environments.
“Years of leaving keys inside without trouble came to an end with this incident,” Rimac noted, emphasizing the importance of vigilance regardless of technological advances.
