- Owner threatens to 3D print parts for his blacklisted Chiron Pur Sport.
- Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac personally reaches out in Instagram DMs.
- Car reportedly un-blacklisted as talks begin on a proper repair plan.
Exotic car owners expect exceptional service, typically behind closed doors and far from the public eye. That said, automakers aren’t really known for customer interactions that sound like YouTube / Instagram drama.
In today’s world, that relationship appears to be flipping, and a Florida-based Bugatti owner who happens to be an influencer in the finance and forex trading space with a large following, just found that out in the best way possible.
More: Angry $2M Bugatti Veyron Driver Crashes Into BMW During Road Rage
Alex Gonzalez, better known online as @fxalexg, recently threw down a digital gauntlet at Bugatti over his wrecked Chiron Pur Sport. In a post that read more like a dare than a plea, he wrote, “bugatti you have 24 hours to unblacklist this car or we will 3D print all parts.”
Bugatti Slides Into His DMs
Photos Copart
Most manufacturers would have ignored a post like that, or quietly rolled their eyes and moved on. Bugatti didn’t. Its CEO, Mate Rimac, decided to respond personally, sending Gonzalez a direct message that has since become part of the story.
The threat didn’t seem empty. Gonzalez evidently bought the heavily damaged Pur Sport from Copart after crashing it himself with the goal of bringing it back to life. That wasn’t going to be an easy task simply based on the damage itself.
The front end has massive damage and is missing its hood. At least one airbag deployed, too. On top of that, Bugatti blacklisted the car to prevent a dangerous rebuild. In other words, the automaker wouldn’t sell the parts needed to fix the car to Gonzalez.
The CEO’s Counteroffer
That’s when Rimac stepped in. In a message Gonzalez later shared in part on Instagram, the Bugatti chief began with an unexpected introduction: “Hey man. Bugatti CEO here.”
He went on to explain why 3D-printing wasn’t a viable path forward. “You can’t 3D print parts for a Bugatti. Your gearbox and carbon fibre monocoque are probably damaged—those can’t be 3D printed. Just like lights and body panels.”
These are obviously good points from Rimac, and they highlight just how careful Bugatti as a brand wants to be in cases like this one. Four-figure horsepower and a compromised chassis don’t mix well. That said, Bugatti clearly wants to engage here beyond just correcting Gonzalez for his efforts.
“We want to help you do this in the most cost efficient way,” Rimac wrote. “If the monocoque and gearbox don’t need replacing, this will cost a lot less than everyone talks about.”
Happy Ending?
While it’s unclear what, if anything, Rimac said beyond what was shared on Instagram as the screenshot cuts off rather abrutly, the story seems headed toward a positive outcome, one way or another.
Gonzalez confirmed plans to talk to Rimac on the phone about the issue and that Bugatti has officially unblacklisted the car. At least at this point, if the car goes back on the road, it’ll be with the blessing (and the safety that comes with it) of Bugatti itself.
