Antoine Arnault Invests in Delage

The investment is nonetheless symbolically significant. A collector of cars, particularly models from the 1980s and 1990s, Antoine Arnault is joining a shareholder base that already includes prominent figures from the French business world, such as François and François-Henri Pinault and Xavier Niel. After seven years devoted to bringing Delage back to life, the company is now entering a new phase of development. The manufacturer is building its strategy around its iconic D12, a V12-powered hybrid hypercar limited to just 30 units and priced at around €2 million. The first cars have begun to be delivered, and Delage is already preparing for what comes next, with a new model in development, another capital raise planned and ambitions to accelerate its international expansion. The company is notably seeking a Chinese partner to produce certain components and is considering expanding the Delage “clubs” concept in the United States, combining automobiles with the French art of living.

Delage aims to position itself in the same ultra-exclusive market as manufacturers such as Bugatti, Pagani and Koenigsegg, brands where rarity and collector value matter as much as performance.

Laurent Tapie has publicly stated his ambition to eventually take the company’s valuation beyond €1 billion. In 2025, he said he had secured nearly €2.5 million from investors as part of a capital increase of around €3 million, while also claiming that Delage’s valuation had increased more than sixfold in four years.

Founded in 1905 by Louis Delage, the house was one of the most prestigious French automotive names of the interwar period, renowned both for its luxury cars and its successes in competition. The brand was entrusted to Laurent Tapie in 2019 to oversee its revival.

Antoine Arnault’s arrival could therefore bring much more than financial backing: his name, network and expertise could prove decisive in transforming a niche house followed by enthusiasts into a global reference in the hypercar world.