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Bugatti Announces The Departure Of Its First Molsheim Employee

Bugatti Announces The Departure Of Its First Molsheim Employee

Patrick Burk was with Bugatti from the very moment the brand returned to Molsheim, and his departure is the end of an era.

Bugatti is a brand with well over a century of history, and some of the most impressive creations and milestones in the entire automotive industry over the years. In the early 2000s, Bugatti returned to its historic home of Molsheim, France, beginning a chapter that would shape today’s automotive industry. Bugatti’s time in Molsheim brought forth the Veyron, with unprecedented performance and an equally unprecedented W16 quad-turbocharged engine.

The Veyron and Chiron both represented the ultimate echelon of the automotive industry, and now, the W16 has given way to the Tourbillon, which is powered by a new hybrid V16 powertrain. Alongside the beginning of Tourbillon production, the Molsheim Atelier is waving goodbye to a chapter of its own: the tenure of its first employee, Patrick Burk.

A facility manager from Saverne, France, Burk’s journey began by responding to a job advertisement that lacked a company name and a location. What he eventually found was the unrestored château that Ettore Bugatti had once called home. Burk lived on-site, serving as the main liaison between Bugatti and the outside world, as well as with the Volkswagen Group.

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About his time there, Burk says, “Bugatti was the priority. 24 hours a day, weekends included. Work never stopped. I sacrificed time with my family, for the brand, but I was willing to do so. I was extremely proud to work for Bugatti, to be the first and only one on site, entrusted with the care of the Château and the task of rebuilding a legend.”

His children were raised there, and over 25 years, Burk served as Chief of Construction, and also Guest Relations Manager and Concierge, among many hats he wore. The ceremony of marking the Atelier’s first stone was one of his first and most significant major tasks, and as event organizer, host, and project coordinator, he pulled the event off for over 300 guests, including a fireworks display he’d organized in secret as a surprise.

Eventually, Burk became a face of the Molsheim Atelier, welcoming owners and guests to the automotive paradise and embodying the Bugatti brand beyond the cars themselves. As his time with Bugatti comes to an end while Tourbillon production begins, Burk leaves behind an incredible 25 years of legacy with one of the world’s greatest automotive brands. Now, he opens a new chapter, enjoying more time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.

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Image Source: Bugatti

Tyler Rampersaud