Stephan Winkelmann, formerly the President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A and more recently the Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH will become Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S new President with effect from 1 January 2018.

He is taking over from Wolfgang Dürheimer (59), who will then have held this position for five years in total and is retiring at his own request at the end of 2017.

Matthias Muller, Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group, said: "I accept Wolfgang Durheimer’s wish to retire. I sincerely thank him for the outstanding work he has done in various positions in the Volkswagen Group over 18 years. At Bugatti, he successfully completed the era of the Veyron and, with the development of the Chiron, he has opened an exciting new chapter for the brand."

“With Stephan Winkelmann, a proven expert in sports cars, the luxury sector is coming to Bugatti,” continues Matthias Müller.

"I am convinced that Stephan Winkelmann will use his years of experience in these fields as well as his sense of dealing with an exclusive clientele and his deep understanding for brands to bring new momentum to Bugatti’s further development and to lead this special brand into a sustainable future."

Stephan Winkelmann comes from Audi Sport, where he has been Managing Director since the spring of 2016. Before that, he was President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini for 11 years.