- Porsche has bought 10 per cent of shares in the Croatian electric sports car company, Rimac Automobili.
- As part of its electrification efforts, Porsche is seeking a development partnership with the young company.
- The main focus is on high-voltage battery technology and electric powertrains.
Porsche has announced an investment in the Croatian electric carmaker Rimac Automobili. The German sports carmaker has brought 10 per cent stakes in Rimac seeking partnership in the electric car development. The exact reason for the investment hasn’t been disclosed by Porsche.
The primary focus of this partnership is said to be the high-voltage battery technology and electric powertrains for future vehicles. The Zagreb-based company currently develops high-voltage battery technology, electric powertrains and is working on the development of digital interfaces between man and machine (HMI Development). The electric carmaker also develops and produces electric two-wheelers under its subsidiary Greyp Bikes.
Commenting on the investment, Lutz Meschke, deputy chairman of the executive board at Porsche, said, “We feel that Rimac’s ideas and approaches are extremely promising, which is why we hope to enter into close collaboration with the company in the form of a development partnership.”
Rimac’s founder and CEO, Mate Rimac, says this partnership is an important step for them to become a component and system supplier in electrification, connectivity and the exciting field of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.
Porsche is betting big on electric future. The Stuttgart-based carmaker’s first all-electric car has been officially named Taycan and will arrive in 2019. Based on the Mission E Concept, it will be a 600bhp sedan which will be able to do 500km range on a single charge. Rimac, on the other hand, came to fame with the ambitious Concept One electric hypercar at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. Earlier this year, the carmaker announced the C_Two electric car, which can do 0-100kmph in just 1.95 seconds.
This announcement from Porsche doesn’t come as a surprise given the recent shift towards electrification in the automotive world. However, what is the fruit that this collaboration between the two carmakers will yield is yet to be seen.
