New home for the high-performance specialist
As a 20-year-old motor racing fan, Mate Rimac converted his BMW M3 with engine damage into an electric car. Today, he produces his own vehicles with high-performance electric drives and supports renowned car manufacturers in the electrification of their models.
The young car fan Mate Rimac first caused a stir in 2008 in his self-electrified BMW 3 Series, in which he made a wide variety of duel opponents look old on the drag strip. A year later, the then 21-year-old e-technology tinkerer founded his own company. In Switzerland, the Rimac brand name was introduced in 2011 as part of the Hemberg hill climb when Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond wrecked the 800 kW Rimac Concept One electric vehicle.
Many records
Among the numerous Guinness Book records, it is not only the top speed of 412 km/h of the Nevera electric hypercar that stands out, but also the reverse at 275 km/h on the Papenburg test track. Rimac, which is only 36 years old, is an innovative car developer that has made a name for itself as a component supplier for manufacturers such as Koenigsegg and Aston Martin and has been working with Bugatti since November 2021. The shareholders are the Rimac Group with 55 percent and Porsche AG with 45 percent; Mate Rimac acts as CEO of Bugatti Rimac, headquartered in Sveta Nedelja near Zagreb. However, Bugatti and Rimac continue to operate as independent brands on the market.
Electrical development assistant
In addition to Mercedes and Porsche, Rimac Technology will also support BMW with new electric drives as a specialized main supplier of high-voltage battery systems, e-axles and software solutions. A pre-production model of the Bugatti Tourbillon is also currently undergoing tuning tests at the company's testing grounds. The combustion engine will then also move into Rimac with this model. The 8.3-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine developed by Cosworth delivers 1324 kW (1800 PS) together with three electric motors. The new Rimac Nevera R sports version now delivers more than 2000 hp with 1570 kW. Enough to accelerate the car from a standstill to 300 km/h in 8.66 seconds. All Nevera models are manufactured at the campus currently being built in Sveta Nedelja. A total of 110 Nevera and 40 Nevera R are to be built.
The campus as a Rimac city
The new campus with its impressive aluminum façade will comprise around 100,000 square meters of production facilities once it is fully expanded. What is striking about the main building is the generous amount of space, the workstations with plenty of daylight and the close proximity of all departments. Virtually all vehicle components are produced in-house in the complex - from the carbon fiber composite body to the interior fittings and the electric motor. The campus will also become the production site for several battery projects by European manufacturers.
In the center of the building there is an atrium with a kitchen and dining area, which serves as a meeting point for employees. Once the entire construction project is complete, up to 2,500 people could work on the campus. Larger green areas, a hotel, a day nursery and venues for various events are also planned.
