In the world of high-performance electric vehicles, Rimac's Nevera has been setting the track on fire. But building an elite hypercar is one thing; expanding into a global automotive empire is quite another. The recent moves made by Rimac, however, signal a resolute march toward this ambitious goal.
Volkswagen Group of America (VWGoA) has inked an exclusive deal with Bugatti Rimac, handling the importation and distribution of vehicles in the United States for both Bugatti and Rimac-branded models. This unprecedented collaboration between VWGoA, a symbol of the internal combustion engine world, and Bugatti, renowned for its century-old legacy of crafting 16-cylinder internal combustion engines and pioneering hypercars, marks a fusion of legacies. Adding an electrifying twist, Rimac, a trailblazer in electric hypercar technology, further cements this union, bridging the gap between the pinnacle of ICE technology and the zenith of electric vehicles.
Under this landmark agreement, VWGoA continues to offer a diverse range of brands, spanning from everyday Volkswagens to the exclusive Bugatti and Rimac hypercars. Sascha Doering, COO of Bugatti America, will now oversee the Rimac brand as well. The agreement was formalized during Monterey Car Week, with notable figures like Pablo Di Si, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti Rimac, Christophe Piochon, COO of Bugatti Rimac, and Hendrik Malinowski, Commercial Director of Bugatti Rimac.
“We’re thrilled to continue distributing Bugatti vehicles through our newly-signed agreements," said Pablo Di Si, President and CEO of VWGoA. "Our distribution network has long provided the support and expertise necessary to provide the highest quality experience for our customers. We’re also excited that we will import and distribute Rimac models through this collaboration, providing even more variety for our customers.”
“For both the Bugatti and Rimac brands, the U.S. is the strongest single market in the world, so it’s important that we curate a sales and ownership experience befitting the extraordinary cars that we’re delivering to customers," remarked Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti Rimac. "The alignment and cooperation with Volkswagen Group of America will allow a new dealer network in the States to evolve with the enormous experience and resources available to them, allowing us to combine all the best bits of a mass-market sales operation with the bespoke, customer-centric special touches that have become a hallmark of both Bugatti and Rimac brands.”
While the path forward is not entirely clear, the question of where these vehicles will be sold remains. Will VW open dedicated Bugatti-Rimac dealerships, or will they join other VW Group offerings like Porsche in select locations? These details are yet to be unveiled, and we're eagerly awaiting further information.