Rimac Automobili

Rimac Automobili
Partner Information
Based	Sveta Nedelja, Croatia
Founder	Mate Rimac (2009)
Announced	4 July 2014
Broke	2015
Role	Vehicle Supplier
Official Website	Rimac Automobili

Rimac Automobili, known simply as Rimac, are a Croatian automotive manufacturer which specialises in developing electric sports cars. Founded in 2009 by Mate Rimac, Rimac have produced several concept sports cars, and have agreed a deal with Porsche, who became a 10% stake holder, to develop high performance electric vehicles.

Rimac previously featured as a sponsor of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship during the inaugural 2014/15 season, supplying the series with an example of their Concept One sports car.

Background

Rimac's origins are to be found in 2007, when garage based engineer Mate Rimac began to convert his own BMW E30 to an electric powertrain, with funding from a group of minor investors. By 2009 Rimac had produced several patents, many of which were sold to allow the foundation of Rimac Automobili that same year. Rimac's eE30 subsequently became a testbed for Rimac's first concept cars, which subsequently became known within the group as the "Green Monster".

Concepts and Companies

Continued research and development work on the "Green Monster" would eventually result in Rimac's first in-house creation, the Concept One. Debuting at the 2011 Frenkfurt Motorshow, Rimac agreed to an initial production run of 88 units, with the first delivery to a customer coming in 2013. The group subsequently became interested in the Formula E Championship for advertising and promotion purposes as they began developing the Concept One's successor.

By 2018 the Rimac C Two was ready to be launched, unveiled at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. That, combined with supply contracts for Aston Martin and Jaguar, prompted future FE entrant Porsche to acquire a 10% stake in Rimac in June 2018, with the Croatian firm expected to aid the German manufacturer's move to electrification.

Formula E History

Rimac would express interest in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship ahead of the inaugural 2014/15 season, but lacked the funds and experience to join as an entrant. Instead, Rimac opened negotiations with Formula E Holdings to become a series sponsor, with a deal between the two groups announced on the eve of the 2014 Donington Test. Rimac would supply the series with an example of its Concept One sports car, which would appear at each ePrix as the Race Director's official track inspection vehicle.

Rimac would appear at every round in 2014/15, although the deal between the two would not be renewed at the end of the season.

Products

Rimac previously supplied the ABB FIA Formula E Championship with one of its Concept One sports cars, intended to serve as a track inspection vehicle for the race director.

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