From Garage Dreams to Bugatti Boss: The Story of Mate Rimac

I’m going to tell you a story that still amazes me every time I think about it: the rise of Mate Rimac. This is a man who went from tinkering in his garage to creating the most expensive electric hypercars in history.

Rimac Automobili, founded by Mate Rimac, is most famous for creating, what they claim to be, one of the fastest cars on the planet - the Rimac Nevera. This electric hypercar doesn’t just look the part, it can launch from 0–62 mph in just 1.74 seconds. That's pretty fast, basically blink and you’ve missed it. Of course, that level of performance doesn’t come cheap - we’re talking around $2.2 million, which I suppose is actually pennies to the Nevera's target audience.

Now, although they have a pretty exciting car, the man behind it is an even more fascinating story. He's one of the most recent automotive entrepreneurs, seeing his idea birthed in his garage, and now playing in the big leagues of automotive companies.

Mate Rimac: A teenage garage tinkerer with a big idea

The journey began when Mate Rimac was just 19 years old, working on his old 1984 BMW. While most people his age were focused on keeping their cars running, Rimac was experimenting with powertrains and electric conversions. His battered BMW E30 became known as the “Green Monster” after it started smashing acceleration records in its class. It was not glamorous, but it was fast and fearless, much like Rimac himself.

For those of you who have known me long enough, you’ll remember how much my own journey has echoed Rimac’s early days. Though, I should add that I'm still in the very early days myself. In one of my recent posts, I wrote about that moment when I dared to say my dream out loud. Much like Rimac, I too yearn to create an automotive brand and launch a car to market. I just know I have a long journey ahead of me and a lot of falls and celebrations to prepare for. So, I can only imagine just how that idea felt to Rimac at the time, particularly as he saw an opportunity for innovation within electric drive trains that has paid off for him. 

Building the foundations from garage projects to component supplier

By 2009, Rimac had started speaking his dreams into existence. He knew that, in order to gain traction and investor confidence, he had to start building revenue and generating interest amongst the industry. In the early days, he was aware that he couldn't fund a full car programme immediately, so he supplied high-performance electric powertrain components to other manufacturers.

However, if you look at the timeline of Rimac, this is pretty impeccable, because two years later, he works on his first concept car. Selling and supplying components not only brought in money, but built Rimac’s credibility in the global automotive industry. Although it seems like a pretty swish and lavish sector, the automotive industry is just like any other when it comes to market disruptors - you have to ensure you're disrupting for the right reasons with a valid idea that key shareholders can get behind. Generating money through sales and experimenting with powertrains did exactly this for Rimac.

It's worth remembering that the best innovators think laterally - there's a real skill in breaking down the journey into bite-size chunks. Rimac didn’t just chase the end goal, he always had it in sight, but he built the stepping stones to get there and adapated when the ones he put in place didn't work.

Concept cars and taking the first steps into hypercars

In 2011, the company unveiled its first hypercar concept. It was ambitious, bold and designed almost entirely in-house. At the time, Croatia was not known for high-performance automotive engineering and many industry voices said it could not be done there. The concept itself was a huge turning point for Rimac, who was able to indicate where his experiments on powertrains could translate into the car market.

Despite people labelling his ideas as impossible, it didn't stop Rimac from persuing his dream further to eventually launch one of the world's fastest cars to market. So, as Rimac continued adapting and evolving the concept, he kept the business afloat and going before the Rimac Nevera would eventually enter the market almost a decade later.

The Rimac Nevera

From the culmination of over a decade of work, the Rimac Nevera is a car that doesn’t just compete with the world’s fastest hypercars but redefines them. Not only did Rimac prove the once impossible to be possible, but he certainly disrupted the entire sector with the innovation.

All-electric, blisteringly quick and fuelled by innovation, the car is a symbol of how far Rimac’s vision has come. In just over 12 years, Rimac went from garage tinkerer to hypercar manufacturer, also making him one of the youngest car manufacturers in the world. Plus, it has continued to turn heads since its market launch almost 5 years ago. Its 0 to 62 mph time of 1.74 seconds and $2.2 million price tag cement its place as one of the most extreme performance cars in history.

The Rimac Nevera is a masterclass in performance, fast and exotic. Yet, even this hypercar isn’t immune to debate. As Mate Rimac candidly admitted, only some of the planned Neveras had found buyers. He suggests that in today’s market, the ultra-wealthy often lean toward the drama of traditional combustion engines. And, you can't fault that logic either, particularly with the regulations on new petrol and diesel cars coming into effect, some reckon the used and classic car markets could see a boom in 2030 (though, worth keeping an eye on this as regulations can change, and so can trends). Electric hypercars, he said, may be too precise, too quiet, too cool for them. Though, by the time the ultra-rich have caught up with the electric car trend, I expect Rimac might have something completely new and exciting on the market.

The Bugatti moment and the Porsche partnership

In 2021, Porsche partnered with Rimac Automobili to take control of Bugatti. This created Bugatti Rimac, with Mate Rimac as CEO. Imagine going from modifying an old BMW in a home garage to running one of the most prestigious car brands in history - I wonder if it still feels like a pinch me moment to him. Though, even as the head of one of the world's powerhouse automotive brands, there are still the sceptics who question Rimac's legitimacy.

Some skeptics online have raised eyebrows, questioning where the early funding Rimac received came from and whether Mate Rimac’s family background played a part. Still, whether propelled by privilege or pure genius, few can deny what he’s built and the immense success he's had. The truth is, no matter what you achieve in life, people will question it, and rightly so. They themselves may be sceptics or concerned about the messages the story presents. However, many Croatians are grateful about the opportunities that Rimac has provided them with, and many more will have been inspired by his story to tackle the impossible (like me).

What is Mate Rimac doing now?

Today, Mate Rimac continues to lead Bugatti Rimac while expanding Rimac Technology, the division that develops advanced EV components for other manufacturers. The company is still based in Croatia, employing hundreds of people and working on innovations in battery systems, drivetrains and even autonomous vehicle technology. Rimac remains a hands-on CEO, often seen in engineering meetings and prototype workshops, making sure every detail meets his exacting standards. Now, that's certainly a CEO who takes pride in the company's products!

Still pushing the limits and achieving the impossible

From his garage to the global stage, Mate Rimac has proven that vision, persistence and a willingness to experiment can turn a dream into reality. He is still tinkering, still pushing boundaries and still making history, only now he does it on a much bigger stage.

For those of you who understand the challenges of breaking into an industry, you’ll know it’s not just about engineering, it’s about navigating the culture. And, for disruptors, like Mate Rimac, they need to find ways to embed themselves in to be taken seriously. In my own journey, I often reflect on being a woman in a male-oriented industry, and how much harder I must work to be noticed and taken seriously. Though, with almost 8 years of industry experience, I'm certainly becoming known in the sector, but I still have much more work to do.