by croatiaweek
October 29, 2026
in
(Screenshot/Mate Rimac/Facebook)
A Bugatti Chiron worth around €3 million, owned by Croatian entrepreneur Mate Rimac, has been recovered in Austria following an international police operation, less than a day after it was stolen near Zagreb.
A 36-year-old Croatian national was arrested after the vehicle was located at a petrol station near Seiersberg in the Austrian province of Styria, shortly after 7pm on Wednesday.
According to Austrian police, the suspect had driven the car from Croatia through Slovenia and into Austria via the Spielfeld border crossing. Police forces in all three countries joined the search.
How the Bugatti was stolen
Rimac explained the circumstances surrounding the theft in a video shared on social media, confirming that the car had been stolen but was subsequently returned to him.
He said he had routinely left the keys inside his vehicles, including the Bugatti Chiron and his Rimac Nevera, for years without incident.
The practice was intended to make it easier for employees to move and test cars at the company’s campus, where vehicles are frequently used for various work-related activities.
Rimac explained that the exterior area of the campus is accessible, although entry to the factory itself requires an access card. The Chiron had been parked outside when the suspect allegedly entered the premises and drove away.
The theft initially went unnoticed because colleagues and friends regularly use the vehicle, and Rimac said he does not always know where it is.
The disappearance came to light after someone reported seeing a person driving the car and suspected it had been stolen. Employees subsequently exchanged messages to establish whether anyone knew its whereabouts.
After the theft was discovered, Rimac contacted the police while his team checked the car’s telemetry data, which can provide information including its location, speed and fuel level.
The tracking information showed the vehicle travelling towards Slovenia.
Rimac said he then set off in his Porsche 911 in an attempt to catch up with the Chiron, which had a significant head start. He hoped the suspect would have to stop for fuel before reaching Austria.
However, the car continued across the border, with Austrian police ultimately locating it at a petrol station.
Rimac credited the Austrian police with a successful response, noting that an officer had been receiving updated location information from the team during the pursuit.