Self driving luxury cars must have an ‘off switch’: Bugatti President

The President of luxury French car manufacturer Bugatti has revealed the brand’s super sports cars may one day be self-driving, at the European launch of its latest model ‘Divo’.

“This is something we might think about in the future,” said Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti Automobiles, speaking to Auto Futures in Paris. But any such feature would need to have an off switch, he said.

He believes the people will always want the option to drive vehicles themselves, especially luxury cars where the thrill is in the driving.

“In heavy traffic, you have an opportunity to put your hands off the steering wheel. But this is just to help you to get through a boring situation or to park. It always has to be something you can switch off,” Mr Winkelmann said.

Bugatti Divo

He also hinted Bugatti may one day consider releasing an electric model to reduce emissions, but the technology isn’t able to offer enough power just yet.

“We have to see what is coming next and we have to use the best possible technology. There is still a way to go and we have more time to think exactly what might be needed for a car like Bugatti.”
Any such battery would need to pack significant power to match the latest model, Divo, being sold for €5,000,000. Bugatti will only manufacture 40 units and they have already sold out.

The latest model has a maximum speed of 380 km/h (236 mph).

Mr Winkelmann is one of the few lucky people in the world to have driven the vehicle.

“To drive the car is something you cannot describe. It’s a wow effect every time you push the pedal or touch the brake,” he said.