Bugatti is one of the most celebrated marques of automobile and the one of the most exclusive Italian/French/German car producers of all time. The company is legendary for producing some of the best sports cars in the world. The original Bugatti failed with the advent of World War II, but has been resurrected twice, most recently under the Volkswagen Group.

Although founder Ettore Bugatti was born in Italy, the automobile company that bears his name was located in Molsheim, in the then-German Alsace region (which went back to France in 1919). The company was known for its advanced engineering in its premium road cars and its success in early Grand Prix motor racing, winning the first ever Monaco Grand Prix. World War II ruined the factory in Molsheim. Ettore Bugatti died on August 21, 1947 and the company closed its doors.

Many revivals of the marque were attmpted but were unsuccesful, a notable one is when in 1987 Romano Artioli, an Italian entrepreneur, acquired the legendary Bugatti name and established Bugatti Automobili SpA. By 1989, the plans for the new Bugatti-revival were presented. The first completed car was labeled the Bugatti EB110 GT, advertised as the most technically advanced supercar ever produced. By the time the EB110 came to market the North American and European economies were in recession and operations ceased in September of 1995. A model specific to the United States market called the "Bugatti America" was in the preparatory stages when the company closed.

Volkswagen AG purchased the rights to produce cars under the Bugatti marque in 1998. In 2000 Volkswagen founded Bugatti Automobiles SAS and introduced the EB 16/4 Veyron concept, a 16 cylinder car producing 1001 bhp DIN (736 kW), at the Paris, Geneva, and Detroit auto shows. Development continued throughout 2001 and the EB 16/4 Veyron was promoted to "advanced concept" status. In July of 2005 Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. announced that the car, officially called the Bugatti Veyron 16.4. It was said that the car would be delivered to clients in October 2005.