Bugatti confirms electric future with Rimac

The world’s most prestigious hypercar maker has officially merged with a little-known Croatian electric car start-up.

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Bugatti has officially merged with little-known Croatian electric hypercar maker Rimac, all but guaranteeing the iconic French marque is preparing a shift to zero-emission powertrains.  

The new company – creatively named ‘Bugatti Rimac’ – will be based at a yet-to-be-completed facility in Zagreb, Croatia, and 33-year-old Rimac founder Mate Rimac (shown below) will serve as CEO.

Fellow Volkswagen Group subsidiary Porsche owns a 22 per cent share of the conglomerate, and, according to press material, will work as a ‘strategic partner.’ Korean manufacturer Hyundai also has a stake in the business.

A model line-up is yet be announced, however last week it was revealed production of Bugatti’s 8.0-litre W16 Chiron is set to wrap up.

While Bugatti has previously suggested petrol power could be retained for some future models, the all-electric C_Two (known in production guise as the Nevera) platform – which also underpins the upcoming Pininfarina Battista – will likely serve as the basis for a future Bugatti model.

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Incoming CEO Mate Rimac said: “I am honoured to be leading this new fusion of automotive minds and begin what will no doubt be a successful, revolutionary and exciting new chapter for everyone involved.

“It’s difficult to find a better match than Rimac and Bugatti. What each party brings to the table in terms of technical expertise, know-how and automotive history makes for an electrifying recipe.

Rimac’s fast-paced operations and electrification skills are the perfect complement to Bugatti’s exceptional heritage and craftmanship. Stay tuned for some truly extraordinary projects in the future.”

Oliver Blume, the Chairman of the Board of Management at Porsche, added: “Together, we are creating a high-performance automotive company.

“We have succeeded in positioning the traditional Bugatti brand with its charisma for the future in a way that creates value. Bugatti embodies fascination and passion, and Rimac has great innovative strength and tech expertise.”

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