Bugatti CEO Gets Candid on The Future of Driver-Assist Technology and Autonomous Cars

Mate Rimac is a visionary

During Monterey Car Week, Bugatti debuted a custom machine at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering. The Brouillard is Bugatti’s first offering under its Programme Solitaire, the luxury brand’s new coachbuilding initiative that fulfills the wildest dreams of its clients at a rate of only one or two per year.

Behind the opulence and eye-popping horsepower of cars like the Brouillard is a man who is peering into the future to see what’s next. He’s been incredibly prescient so far; Mate Rimac built his first EV in his garage in 2007, a 1984 BMW 3 Series body with its engine swapped out for an all-electric powertrain.

Today, the entrepreneur leads one of the world’s foremost luxury brands, Bugatti, and the company he founded, Rimac Group. When asked what he sees as the next Big Thing in automotive technology, he doesn’t even skip a beat.

“It’s definitely self-driving,” he says. “That’s the Holy Grail.”

Self-driving cars will be safer, Rimac says

Technology-focused may not be the first thing that comes to mind when describing Bugatti. A century and then some into its legacy, Bugatti cars are known for their incredible detail and timelessness, akin to a fine Swiss-made watch. But Rimac’s potent blend of technology focus and shrewd strategy has led the company to new possibilities, including autonomous driving.

“The battery technology is there,” Rimac says. “We’ve reached an inflection point where electric cars have at least the same level of performance as combustion cars. The range is also getting there, charging is faster, and the cost is almost on par. So it’s really about the next step, which is autonomous driving, which is going to change how people move.”

Technology is going to change ownership, Rimac asserts. He says many people won’t even own cars anymore but use apps like Uber and Lyft, which are already mainstream. However, the experience will be on a different level when you don’t need a human driver in the car with you.

“It will be safer from many perspectives,” he says. “Your Uber driver might have arrived yesterday in the country, doesn’t know anything about the city, and might be distracted. A robotic driver will never be distracted. Will never watch its phone. Will never be drunk.”
He has a point. Even government offices are collecting data on rideshare services and crimes against passengers, and it’s not a pretty picture. Robotaxis don’t carry the risks of the human factor.

Self-driving versus driver-assist technology

Enthusiasts may not understand the self-driving trend, but the enthusiast community doesn’t make up the majority of car buyers. Rimac believes that in the future, only a limited number of people will choose to have cars.

“Of course, I want having cars, enjoying cars, and driving cars to be around for a long time,” he says. “But the question is: how many people actually love cars today and how many are forced to drive because there is no better option?”

A century ago, Rimac points out, everyone had a horse, while today, only those who really love horses own one. It’s a choice by those who are enthusiastic about equestrian life. He compares that to where the future of cars is headed: ownership will be optional, reserved for those who love to drive.

“With autonomous cars, it’s going to be a choice,” he says. “People who don’t give a damn about cars won’t own one. They will just use autonomous cars to get around. But people who love cars will still be able to have them.” Interestingly, though, Rimac sees current driver-assist technologies as a hindrance.

“I would like to see driver assistance systems go away because for me, [the car is] driving you, but you are still responsible and you are still liable. I think that’s some transitional thing that’s not good for anyone. It gives you the illusion that it’s doing something, and it might feel safe, but if something happens, it gives up.”

When asked whether or not it’s a necessary step to get from point A to B, he admits that it probably is. However, he doesn’t think drivers should accept that this is the final piece of the process. It’s just a stepping stone.

Staying ahead of the technology trends

Rimac has been staying ahead of the trends, which has ensured the success of his Croatia-based company, Rimac Automobili, as well as Bugatti. He recognizes that a long-term plan is necessary, but adaptability is key. Case in point: Rimac started as an EV builder, and its Nevera model has racked up dozens of Guinness World Records. As the fervor for electric cars has calmed, Rimac is already poised to pivot.

“Investors were rewarding people who were in the electric car game and punishing people who were not,” he says. “When I got involved with Bugatti, Porsche folks insisted that the next Bugatti would be electric. I managed to convince them not to do that.”

In this industry, a 10-year plan is nice to have as long as it has a big “adapt or die” message stamped into it. Rimac knows his plan won’t be the same in 10 years–or even next year, for that matter. He points to companies that have already spent billions of dollars going all-in on the EV side, and says perhaps they went too far because it’s going to take them six or seven years to turn back. The Bugatti team, on the other hand, planned the analog-interiored, internal-combustion-powered, naturally aspirated Tourbillon five years ago. They nailed it.

It’s no random shake of the Magic 8-Ball, either. Visionaries like Rimac are tuned into the market, adjusting to the tiny vibrations of change before most of us. He plans on making it count.

“You have to be smart about where you go,” Rimac says. “The Chiron was on the market for ten years, and the Turbillon will be on the market for quite a while as well. So you have to be good at predicting, or even better, create a trend.”

This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Sep 4, 2025, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.