The story of the disappearance and return of a unique hypercar
At the beginning of the year, reports emerged that men believed to be members of the notorious Wagner group had allegedly stolen a unique Koenigsegg One:1 linked to former Formula 1 driver Adrian Sutil. It was also claimed that Interpol was searching for the car. Both claims turned out to be false. As it turned out, these rumors originated from a European website that turned an outdated German report from January 7, 2026, into a ‘sensational’ story, which was then picked up by other publications.
The real story: the car was never stolen
The truth turned out to be far less dramatic and was established over a month ago. On March 23, German publication Bild reported finding the supposedly stolen One:1 parked in Munich. The car was never stolen. It was confiscated by the State Criminal Police Office of Baden-Württemberg (LKA) and then returned to its owner — the leasing company AIL Leasing.
‘The claim that this car was wanted by Interpol was pure fabrication,’ said sales manager Christian Finke to Bild in March.
Auction and unique specifications
Auction house RM Sotheby’s announced that chassis 7108, believed to be the same One:1, will go under the hammer in Tegernsee next month with an estimate of €8 to €10 million ($9.1–$11.4 million). However, the price is only part of the story.
In Koenigsegg circles, this hypercar is known as ‘JC’. It is believed to be the third customer One:1 ever built. In total, seven cars were produced: six for customers and one prototype. Like other public examples, it is powered by a 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 1,360 hp (1,014 kW) and weighs approximately 1,360 kg, providing the 1:1 power-to-weight ratio that gave the model its name.
Recognizable design and ownership history
Chassis 7108 is easily recognizable due to its specification. The exposed carbon fiber body contrasts with bright China Pink accents on the splitter, roof scoop, side skirts, diffuser, active rear wing, and even the carbon fiber Aircore wheels. The theme continues inside the cabin with matching pink stitching and trim details.
According to the Egg Registry, the hypercar was originally ordered to complement an owner’s collection, which reportedly included a Pagani Zonda 760 JC, Ferrari FXX-K, and a 458 Speciale Aperta in a similar color scheme. The registry also notes that the One:1 was seen at a track event at the Shanghai International Circuit in 2016, after which it almost disappeared from public view. And it is at this point that the story becomes particularly interesting.
The link to Sutil and the real owner
In recent years, many believed the car belonged to Adrian Sutil. He was repeatedly photographed driving this car, especially in Monaco, where, according to the Egg Registry, the One:1 spends the summer. Significantly, RM Sotheby’s does not mention Sutil in the lot description, nor the story that drew attention to chassis 7108.
However, Auto Motor und Sport, which also tracked chassis 7108 to AIL Leasing in Grünwald near Munich and verified the documents, reports that Sutil is not listed as the registered owner. According to Koenigsegg dealer Markus Esser, the registered owner is Pace Cars International GmbH, a subsidiary of his firm from Düsseldorf.
Esser explained how the car ended up with Sutil. His company delivered the new One:1 in 2015, bought it back in 2019, and then financed it through a sale-and-leaseback with AIL Leasing. Pace Cars International then leased it to Sutil ‘on a permanent basis for a fee’ until its seizure. In other words, the allegedly stolen hypercar turned out to be a leased vehicle that was returned to the legal owner, just as Bild reported.
Documented history and sales prospects
As for the documentation, the auction house focuses on the registration history. According to the current listing, the car was delivered on April 4, 2015, through Esser Automotive, a long-time German Koenigsegg representative.
The listing also includes a detailed service history, including visits to Esser Automotive in 2017, 2019, and 2021, service work at SIC Garage in 2022, as well as recent maintenance and factory updates performed before the sale. The odometer currently reads only 4,233 km (2,630 miles).
While RM Sotheby’s estimate reaches €10 million, some observers believe the final price could be significantly higher. After all, only six customer One:1s were built, and few are as recognizable as chassis 7108. Whether it sells for €10 million or for a sum closer to the high figures circulating online, one thing is certain: one of the most famous Koenigsegg cars will soon find a new owner.
This story demonstrates how rumors and unverified information can spread quickly in the age of social media, creating a false impression of events. In reality, a complex financial leasing scheme and the seizure of a well-known person led to confusion, which was later corrected. The uniqueness of the One:1 model, its limited production run, and striking design make it one of the most desirable for collectors, so the auction will undoubtedly attract significant attention, regardless of the final price.