Yahoo Autos Porsche Invests In Rimac Automobili
After having secured contracts with Koenigsegg, Aston Martin, Jaguar Land Rover, and numerous other automotive companies who chose to remain secret partners, Croatian EV maker Rimac Automobili welcomes a new investor: None other than Porsche AG, the most engineering-focused member of the Volkswagen Group.
Following A-round investing last year, founder Mate Rimac sold 19 percent of his company to the Camel Group, Asia's largest battery manufacturer, for €30 million. That move left Mate with 62 percent of Rimac's shares, and since the Porsche deal keeps him the majority shareholder, we're talking about a minority stake here-but a significant one.
Porsche has been busy making sure that its first EV, the 2020 Taycan, performs just as well as it would with a gasoline engine. And while Porsche will likely achieve that, Rimac's next product, the C_Two, will be a 1914-horsepower all-electric hypercar. So there must be a few tricks Porsche can learn from Rimac.
It's no secret that Rimac wishes to become a major OEM supplier through Rimac Technologies, and that the company is aiming for the high end of this huge market. Porsche fits right into that picture, with Mate Rimac adding this about the German automaker's investment:
In less than a decade we have built up a comprehensive know-how in developing high-performance electric powertrain and battery technology, innovative infotainment and telemetry systems and many other core vehicle systems. Our hypercars are at the pinnacle of technology, redefining the idea of the super sports car. Still, building a serious automotive supplier and niche sports car manufacturer is a lifetime challenge and we still have a long way to go. Entering the collaborative partnership with Porsche AG is an important step in our strategy to become a leading EV technology supplier to the global OEMs. We are delighted to have gained a high level of trust from our investors, partners and customers and are looking forward to continue working on exciting projects with our clients across the automotive industry.
Beginning in earnest with the first Concept_One prototype shown at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Rimac has grown into a 400-strong company in seven years, with its subsidiary Greyp Bikes going equally strongly next door. And according to board member Lutz Meschke, Porsche has been watching:
By developing the purely electric two-seaters super sports cars, like the Concept_One and C_Two, as well as core vehicle systems, Rimac has impressively demonstrated its credentials in the field of electro-mobility. We feel that Rimac’s ideas and approaches are extremely promising, which is why we hope to enter into close collaboration with the company in the form of a development partnership.
Since Porsche's technology will be used by all premium brands within the Volkswagen Group, it seems Rimac could have an immense role in the future of this industry.
And at the end of the day, this means more speed. Much more, coming your way from a still-smallish company in Croatia, of all places.
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