Bugatti and Rimac have combined to form Bugatti-Rimac

Tuesday, 6 July 2021

Being a supercar manufacturer is a tough gig. You don’t sell many cars, and the few you do ask massive prices that cut out the vast majority of the market. But you’re still expected to push the absolute limit of performance while including huge levels of luxury.

Profit margins are slim and you’ve still got to pay your workers for designing, building and marketing the thing.

It’s a little bit like creating a start-up smartphone app but there isn't really the equivalent Google, Apple or Facebook buying you out for millions. The closest you could get is a company like Volkswagen taking an interest and taking a stake.

Bugatti has been around in same shape or form since 1909.

It did it with Bugatti back in 1998, resurrecting the French maker to create the iconic Veyron and its successor, the Chiron.

**READ MORE:

Rimac’s Nevera boasts a thoroughly silly 1427kW of power and an even sillier 2360Nm of torque.

* Porsche to make high-performance battery cells in Germany

* Lamborghini and Bugatti boss wants the combustion engine around 'as long as possible'

* Volkswagen is said to be considering options for Lamborghini

In another corner of Europe, about ten years later, a Croatian by the name of Mate Rimac was working on converting his BMW E30 3 Series to use electric power. He went on to create Rimac Automobili, creators of some of the most powerful electric supercars on the planet.

This time it was Porsche showing an interest in a supercar manufacturer (technically still the VW Group). The German ended up taking a 10 per cent stake in Rimac, later upped to 24 per cent.

Now, Rimac and Bugatti have joined forces to build some truly epic electrified supercars. Rimac holds 55 per cent of the new Bugatti-Rimac company, while Porsche owns 45 per cent.

The Bugatti Chiron and Rimac Nevera will still be built under their original respective badges, with details of the first combined models yet to be announced. Mate Rimac will act as Bugatti-Rimac’s CEO.

This really is an exciting moment,' said Rimac. 'Rimac Automobili has grown very quickly and the joint venture takes the company to a completely new level. Bugatti and Rimac are a perfect match for each other and both contribute important assets… together we will pool our knowledge, our technologies and our assets with the goal of creating very special projects in the future.'