Summary
Mate Rimac is a Croatian entrepreneur and the founder of Rimac Group, recognized for his role in advancing electric vehicle (EV) technology. His career transitioned from early wearable technology (iGlove) to the establishment of Rimac Automobili in 2009. He has significantly expanded his influence through high-performance hypercars (Concept_One, Nevera) and a major joint venture with Bugatti. While globally integrated into the supply chains of major automotive manufacturers like BMW and Porsche, his ventures have faced domestic scrutiny regarding the use of Croatian state funds and the technical specifications of certain autonomous vehicle projects.
Key findings
- Entrepreneurial Timeline:
- Developed the "iGlove" wearable device in 2005 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mate_Rimac).
- Founded Rimac Automobili in 2009 at age 21, starting with no initial capital (https://raport._ba/od-garaze-u-livnu-do-vrha-svijeta-kako-je-mate-rimac-ves-masinom-pokorio-autoindustriju).
- Developed the Rimac Concept_One and the high-performance Nevera (https://www.motor1.com/news/518876/who-is-mate-rimac-bugatti/).
- Established the Bugatti Rimac joint venture in July 2021 (https://electrek.co/2021/07/05/rimac-takes-over-bugatti-electrification-legendary-supercar-b).
- Academic Background:
- Attended VERN' University of Applied Sciences in Zagreb but did not complete a degree (https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/29/cars/mate-rimac-risk-takers/index.html).
- Completed high school education prior to starting his first business venture (https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/29/cars/mate-rimac-risk-takers/index.html).
- Corporate Network and Partnerships:
- Rimac Group Entities: Leads Rimac Automobili, Rimac Technology (EV components), Bugatti Rimac (JV with Porsche), and Greyp Bikes ([https://www.rimac-group.com/](https https://www.rimac-group.com/)).
- Key Partners: Provides battery technology for the BMW i7 facelift (https://www.autoblog.com/news/rimac-will-power-the-next-bmw-i7) and maintains deep ties with Porsche and Hyundai Motor Group (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugatti_Rimac).
- Public Record and Controversies:
- Faced public scrutiny regarding the allocation of €19.9 million from the Croatian state budget to "Project 3 Mobility," a company owned by Rimac (https://www.reddit.com/r/croatia/comments/1lll4wt/hdzov_ministar_dao_rimcu_na%C5%A1ih_199_milijuna_eura/).
- The "Verne" robotaxi reveal was criticized for a perceived lack of actual autonomous driving capabilities during the presentation (https://europeancapit...).
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mate_Rimac: Used to verify early career (iGlove) and Bugatti Rimac structure.
- https://raport.ba/od-garaze-u-livnu-do-vrha-svijeta-kako-je-mate-rimac-ves-masinom-pokopio-autoindustriju: Used to verify the 2009 founding of Rimac Automobili.
- https://www.motor1.com/news/518876/who-is-mate-rimac-bugatti/: Used to verify the development of Concept_One and the hypercar timeline.
- https://electrek.co/2021/07/05/rimac-takes-over-bugatti-electrification-legendary-supercar-b: Used to confirm the July 2021 Bugatti Rimac announcement.
- https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/29/cars/mate-rimac-risk-takers/index.html: Used to verify educational status and high school background.
- https://www.autoblog.com/news/rimac-will-power-the-next-bmw-i7: Used to confirm the BMW battery technology partnership.
- https://www.reddit.com/r/croatia/comments/1lll4wt/hdzov_ministar_dao_rimcu_na%C5%A1ih_199_milijuna_eura/: Used to identify the controversy regarding state funding.
- https://www.rimac-group.com/: Used to verify corporate structure and subsidiary companies.
Confidence
0.92
Open questions
- The specific name and specialization of the high school Mate Rimac attended are unknown.
- The exact nature and percentage of Hyundai Motor Group's investment in the Rimac Group requires further investigation.
Entrepreneurial Timeline
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Corporate Structure and Partnerships
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