Porsche increases stake in Rimac Automobili to 24 percent
Croatian electric supercar company, Rimac gets bigger slice.
Not heavily marketed or promoted electric supercar manufacturer Rimac must be holding on to some piece of battery technology that is valuable for Porsche AG to take a larger share of the company.
Electric car manufacturer Rimac, which is headquartered near Zagreb, Croatia was founded in 2009 and now employs almost 1,000 people.
Rimac Automobili, founded by Croatian entrepreneur Mate Rimac, has developed an electric supercar platform, which it supplies to other automakers, including Automobili Pininfarina. Rimac, has been expanding its engineering operations and has been supplying electric vehicle technology parts for electric vehicles to automakers such as Aston Martin, Hyundai and Kia.
Porsche joined the young technology and sports car company as an investor in 2018 and increased its stake to 15 percent in September 2019. The Hyundai Motor Group invested in Rimac in May 2019.
The latest capital increase by Porsche AG illustrates the expansion of the strategic partnership. Porsche is investing additional 70 million Euros. This means that the sports car manufacturer will hold 24 per cent of the shares without exercising a controlling influence.
With Porsche expanding its range of electric vehicles (EV) in coming years, this move by Porsche is clear that Rimac’s battery and charging technology is key to Porsche’s EV expansion in coming years.
PRESS RELEASE: “Rimac is excellently positioned in prototype solutions and small series,” says Lutz Meschke, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board and Member of the Executive Board for Finance and IT at Porsche AG. “Mate Rimac and his team are important partners, especially when it comes to supporting us in the development of components.
Rimac is well on its way to becoming a Tier 1 supplier for Porsche and other manufacturers in the high-tech segment. Porsche has already placed its first orders with Rimac for the development of highly innovative series components,” says Meschke.
Both sides will benefit from this enhanced level of cooperation in the future, he emphasises: “Mate Rimac inspires us with his innovative ideas. By the same token, he benefits from our know-how in production and methodological expertise in development.”
Increased investment in young companies with potential
Porsche has for many years been stepping up investment in young companies with potential. It currently has stakes in more than 20 start-ups and eight venture capital funds. “Our investment in Rimac has turned out to be absolutely right,” Meschke says.
“The value has increased many times over since our initial investment. The company has developed very well technologically. We are expanding our cooperation step by step and are also benefiting from Rimac’s strength in innovation.”
Company founder Mate Rimac welcomes the fact that Porsche steps up its commitment. “Porsche has been a big supporter of our company since 2018, and it has always been a privilege to have one of the world’s most iconic sports car brands be a part of Rimac,” he says.
“We’re proud to work together on exciting new electrified products. With many car manufacturers across the world being Rimac customers, it is important, both for Rimac and Porsche, that we remain an entirely independent business.
The partnership with Porsche helps the company develop and grow which is beneficial for all of our customers.”
Mate Rimac founded the company named after him in 2009 at the age of 21. Even prior to that, he had a vision of the electric-powered super sports car while still at school and university.
Based in Sveta Nedelja near Zagreb, his company now has a workforce of nearly 1,000. Rimac designs, develops and manufactures electric hypercars with up to 2,000 hp and a top speed of more than 400 km/h.
The company also supplies technologies and systems to several well-known manufacturers of electric cars.
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