When a company’s identity is built around being the very best, even offhand remarks can trigger strong reactions. That’s particularly true when Bugatti is involved.
Bugatti hypercars rely on custom-engineered components that can’t be mass-produced or casually 3D printed.
Bugatti owner Mate Rimac pushed back against viral claims involving 3D-printed parts and inflated repair costs.
Rimac explained that high parts pricing supports Bugatti’s goal of building cars that can last “100 years.”
At the highest tiers of automotive manufacturing, production becomes intensely specialized. Vehicles at this level require extremely customized components and processes that simply aren’t available through conventional mass production.
That philosophy perfectly fits a brand like Bugatti, which represents the pinnacle of performance, luxury, and prestige.
YouTuber Mat Armstrong recently made waves by claiming that repairing a Bugatti could be as simple as 3D-printing replacement parts.
Given that Bugatti vehicles cost well over $2 million, the statement raised eyebrows. The comment spread quickly online and eventually drew a response from Bugatti-Rimac CEO and owner Mate Rimac himself.
Rimac built his reputation by creating the blisteringly fast Rimac electric hypercars and is now one of the industry’s most outspoken executives. Addressing the controversy, he shared a video on his personal Instagram account to clarify several misconceptions circulating online.
Before tackling the 3D-printing claims, Rimac addressed rumors about replacement-part pricing. Some reports suggested that items like headlights cost as much as $150,000 each.
In reality, he said, they cost $25,000 per unit. He added that pricing reflects Bugatti’s commitment to ensuring modern models last for a century, just like the brand’s historic cars.
Rimac then directly addressed Armstrong’s suggestion that Chiron parts could simply be 3D-printed.
While Bugatti does use 3D printing as part of its manufacturing process, Rimac explained that this only works because of massive investments in research and development. Attempting to replicate such parts at home, he said, is not appropriate for vehicles that cost millions of dollars.
Although Armstrong is entitled to share his views, he operates in the YouTube space and has used his platform to highlight what he believes are maintenance concerns with his Chiron.
The reality, however, is that buyers who can afford a brand-new Bugatti can almost certainly afford the cost of maintaining it properly, without resorting to “shortcuts.”
Also Read: 15 Rare Supercars That Rival Bugatti and Ferrari in Performance and Exclusivity
