
Bugatti is one of the most prestigious automobile brands in the world that is renowned for its luxury, speed, and engineering excellence. Part of the Volkswagen Group since 1998, this French automaker came into being at the beginning of the 20th century.
The brand’s logo has played a crucial role in representing its identity and heritage over the years. The evolution of the Bugatti logo is a fascinating journey that reflects the company’s commitment to excellence, elegance, and performance. This article explores the history and transformation of the Bugatti logo through different periods.
The Genesis of the Bugatti Logo (1909 – 1963)
The Bugatti brand was founded by Ettore Bugatti in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, which was then part of the German Empire. The original Bugatti logo was an oval-shaped emblem featuring a red background with the word “BUGATTI” written in white uppercase letters. The letters were executed in a geometric sans-serif typeface with black shadows on the sides and bottom for better contrast.
The wordmark was surrounded by a white border with red outlines along the perimeter containing small red dots inside. These represented pearls or safety wires, which symbolised high quality and reliability. Above the brand name, the initials “EB” in black were included in honour of the founder, Ettore Bugatti.

(1963 – 2007)
In the 1963 logo redesign, the original colour palette and wordmark were retained. However, the typeface of the wordmark was changed to a more traditional sans-serif typeface with rounded contours. The red dots along the perimeter got smaller with a little more space added among them. Also, the red outlines along the perimeter were made black.

(2007 – 2022)
In 2007, the logo was refined further, wherein the white frame turned into a darker shade of grey. Also, the black outlines of the earlier logo were removed altogether. Inside the oval emblem, the brand name “Bugatti” in white uppercase and in a traditional sans-serif typeface with thin shadows remained. Further, the red colour palette inside the oval became lighter and brighter, which made the overall logo appear stylish.

(2015 – 2022)
The 2015 logo redesign appeared three-dimensional, thanks to the addition of gradient shades to the red background and grey border, which looked more like silver. The wordmark was given more volume with the shadows made thicker.

(2022 – Present)
In 2022, Bugatti unveiled a new, modernised visual identity under the ownership of the Rimac Group. The refreshed logo abandoned the traditional oval emblem in favour of a simpler, more contemporary design. The red background and dots were removed as well, leaving only the refined “BUGATTI” wordmark in an elegant, minimalist font. The wordmark in black uppercase was rendered in a modern geometric sans-serif typeface. This redesign signified a shift toward a more futuristic and luxurious brand image while maintaining the legacy of its illustrious past.

The Elements of the Bugatti Logo
Font
The typeface used in the Bugatti logo reflects the brand’s heritage while embracing modern aesthetics. The refined, bold corporate font showcases distinctive contours and stable glyphs. It resembles renowned sans-serif typefaces such as Moderna Unicase Condensed Bold and Sicret Mono Medium.
Colour
The colour palette of Bugatti comprises three main colours—red, white, and black. Red, which is the dominant colour, symbolises passion, love, and the dynamic energy of the brand. White represents purity and elegance and evokes loyalty and trust. Black enhances the logo’s strength, confidence, and professionalism.
The outline colour of the oval can vary between white, grey, and silver when displayed on Bugatti cars. However, the red background and the white wordmark remain consistent and untouched to ensure brand recognition.
Symbol
The white wordmark of the Bugatti logo is set in a clean, precise sans-serif font. This makes it appear three-dimensional due to the strategic use of black shading. The Bugatti emblem includes a distinct symbol composed of two letters, “E” and “B,” which were positioned back-to-back with the “E” mirrored.
These initials honour the founder of the company, Ettore Bugatti. And unlike the wordmark, the symbol is executed in black, which adds an extra layer of sophistication to the classic wordmark. The bars of the letter “E” seamlessly align with the beginning of the “B”’s bars. This creates a sense of speed and movement that reflects Bugatti’s commitment to high-performance engineering.
The History of Bugatti
Bugatti was founded in 1909 by Ettore Bugatti in Molsheim, Alsace, which was then part of the German Empire. Ettore Bugatti was an Italian-born engineer who had a vision of combining artistic elegance with high-performance engineering. The company quickly gained recognition for its cutting-edge technology and superior craftsmanship.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Bugatti established itself as a dominant force in the world of motorsports. It produced some of the most successful racing cars of the era, including the Bugatti Type 35. The brand became synonymous with innovation, luxury, and precision. After the death of Ettore Bugatti in 1947 and the economic challenges of the post-war period, Bugatti’s production declined. The company eventually ceased operations in the 1950s.
In 1987, the Italian entrepreneur Romano Artioli revived the Bugatti name and introduced the Bugatti EB110 supercar in the early 1990s. However, financial difficulties led to another temporary closure. In 1998, the Volkswagen Group acquired Bugatti and initiated a new era of innovation. The release of the Bugatti Veyron in the early 2000s re-established the brand as a leader in the hypercar industry. Bugatti continued to push the boundaries of automotive engineering with the Chiron, which was introduced in 2016.
In 2021, Bugatti entered a new chapter as it became part of the Bugatti Rimac company under the leadership of Mate Rimac. The brand continues to set new benchmarks in luxury, performance, and cutting-edge technology.
Interesting Facts About Bugatti
- During the 1930s, Bugatti used to build trains, which included the world’s fastest.
- The Bugatti Veyron Super Sport once held the title for the world’s fastest production car by reaching a top speed of 267.8 mph (431.07 km/h).
- The special tyres for the Bugatti Chiron to hit a top speed of 489.2 km/h were built by Michelin. Strong metallic threads were woven into the rubber to withstand the heat generated by the car’s tyres.
- The Bugatti factory almost avoided being burnt down twice (1939 and 2001) during the testing of its powerful car engines.
- The total surface area of the honeycomb catalytic converters used in any Bugatti Chiron can cover about 230,265 square meters.
- Every Bugatti vehicle is meticulously hand-assembled in the company’s atelier in Molsheim, France, to ensure the highest level of craftsmanship.
- Bugatti produces a very limited number of cars each year to maintain exclusivity and prestige.
- The high-tech and supremely powerful air conditioning system used in a Bugatti Chiron can cool an entire apartment.
- Bugatti is known to have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans car rally twice during the 20s and 30s. It also won the first Monaco Grand Prix in 1929.
- The cost of a Bugatti paint job alone can be higher than an average luxury car. This is due to the fact that the process involves multiple layers and hand-polishing techniques.
- The total cost of building 450 Veyrons amounted to $2.28 billion.
- All 500 units of Bugatti Chiron were sold out in 5 years.
- The bolts used in Bugatti’s wheels are made of titanium, which is a material chosen for its strength and lightweight properties.
- Bugatti Chiron uses 3D-printed brakes, which are the largest and the most powerful brake callipers in any production car.
- Bugatti puts one-carat diamonds in the speedometer of its cars.
- Bugatti Bolide has been called the “best looking” hypercar in the world at the 36th Festival Automobile International in Paris.
- Before venturing into automobiles, Ettore Bugatti designed and built horse-drawn carriages.
- The owner of Volkswagen, Ferdinand Piech, who happened to be the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, wanted to build a 1000 hp super powerful engine but was discouraged by his engineers. However, his vision bore fruition in 2005 with Bugatti Veyron when he bought the brand in the 1990s.
- Bugatti owners can customise virtually every aspect of their car’s interior, from leather colour to unique stitching patterns.
- The Bugatti Veyron needs 10 radiators to keep its quad-turbocharged engine running.
- Some Bugatti models feature hidden signatures of the craftsmen who built the car, thus adding a personal touch to each masterpiece.
Finally
The Bugatti logo has evolved significantly over the years and reflects the brand’s history, resilience, and continuous pursuit of excellence. From its origins in 1909 to its modernised 2022 version, the logo has remained a powerful symbol of luxury, innovation, and performance.