A Bugatti valued at approximately €3 million, reportedly belonging to Croatian automotive entrepreneur Mate Rimac, has been recovered in Austria after it was allegedly stolen near Zagreb. Austrian police arrested a 36-year-old Croatian man suspected of the theft after tracking the vehicle across Slovenia and into Austria.
According to Croatian news portal 24sata, the high-value supercar was stolen yesterday afternoon near Zagreb before the suspected thief fled across the Slovenian border and continued towards Austria. The case quickly developed into an international police operation involving authorities from Croatia, Slovenia and Austria.
Stolen Bugatti Found Near Graz After International Search
The stolen Bugatti was located shortly after 7 p.m. at a petrol station along the A9 motorway near Seiersberg, close to Graz, Austria. Austrian police apprehended the 36-year-old suspect after he entered the country through the Spielfeld border crossing.
The recovery followed cooperation between Slovenian and Austrian law enforcement agencies, which worked together to locate the vehicle and identify the suspected thief.
According to Austrian police, the suspect admitted to stealing the car during questioning. The vehicle was seized and subsequently returned to its owner, bringing the search for the approximately €3 million supercar to a conclusion.
Was the Stolen Car a Bugatti Chiron?
Austrian authorities have not officially disclosed the exact model of the recovered Bugatti. However, earlier reports in Austrian media unofficially identified the vehicle as a Bugatti Chiron.
If confirmed, the car would belong to one of the most exclusive families of modern hypercars. The Bugatti Chiron is renowned for its quad-turbocharged 8.0-litre W16 engine, extraordinary performance and limited production, making it one of the most valuable modern vehicles on the road.
Depending on the version, specification and individual vehicle’s provenance, a Chiron can command a multimillion-euro price. The reported value of approximately €3 million is consistent with the exclusive nature of certain examples, although the precise model and specification in this case remain unconfirmed.
The car’s reported connection to Mate Rimac adds another dimension to the story. Rimac is widely recognised for his work in high-performance electric vehicles and his leadership in the automotive industry, including his involvement with Bugatti through Bugatti Rimac.
Criminal Proceedings to Continue in Austria
Following the recovery of the vehicle, the Austrian criminal police took over the investigation. The Graz public prosecutor’s office has ordered that a criminal complaint be filed against the 36-year-old suspect.
According to the available information, the legal proceedings will continue while the suspect remains at liberty. The authorities have not announced further details about the investigation or disclosed additional information about the circumstances surrounding the theft.
For now, several details remain unconfirmed, including the exact Bugatti model and the full circumstances in which the vehicle was taken near Zagreb.
A Multimillion-Euro Hypercar Recovered Across Borders
The swift recovery highlights the importance of international police cooperation when dealing with vehicle thefts involving high-value cars. In this case, coordination between Slovenian and Austrian authorities helped locate the missing Bugatti after it had crossed multiple borders.
With the vehicle returned to its owner and the suspect identified, the case now moves into the legal process in Austria.
For the automotive world, the incident is another reminder that even some of the rarest and most expensive hypercars can become targets for theft. However, until Austrian authorities confirm the model, the reported identification of the car as a Bugatti Chiron should be treated as unverified.
Source: 24sata.hr; Photo: Antonio Ahel/ATAImages