Hyundai has just announced that they will invest EUR 80 million in Rimac to develop high-performance EV and FCEV prototypes by 2020.
We’re not sure who to take more seriously anymore. Rimac was already on our must-watch list for future product and technology development and now that Hyundai and Kia have decided to work with the Croatian EV company, Hyundai’s suddenly jumped onto the list as well.
Rimac revealed their $2-million USD hyper-electric-supercar, the C_Two, at last March’s Geneva Motor Show. It wowed the crowds and apparently, Hyundai took notice too.
The Korean giant is looking to Rimac to help them design and develop an electric version of Hyundai’s N brand midship sports concept car. This battery-electric sports car will be joined by a high-performance fuel cell vehicle. The goal is to get working prototypes on the road by 2020 and to get these cars to market sometime after that,
From the press release:
“We are very impressed by Hyundai Motor Group’s vision as well as prompt and decisive initiative,” said Mate Rimac, Founder and CEO of Rimac Automobili. “We believe this technology partnership will create maximum value for our companies and their customers. Rimac is still young and relatively small but a fast-growing company. We see a strong investor and technology partner in Hyundai Motor Group and believe this collaboration will charge our position as a Tier-1 electrification components supplier to the industry.”
Rimac was founded in 2009 by Mate Rimac as a garage project in Croatia with the vision to build the sports car of the 21st century. It has since grown rapidly into a technology powerhouse, with its expertise ranging from high-performance electric powertrains to various control technologies and battery systems.