When it comes to stories that stir the soul, catalyze breakthrough ideas, and give rise to innovation, the inspiring entrepreneurial journey of Mate Rimac, the Founder of Rimac Automobili, comes to mind.

At The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering at Monterey Car Week last month, the company wowed the crowd with its US debut of the record-breaking Rimac Nevera (which is priced at over $2M). In an era where electric cars have firmly staked their claim as the future of the automotive industry, the Nevera has surged ahead as a beacon of electrifying excellence, merging advanced technology with breathtaking design.

However, behind the gleaming car and the notable success of Rimac Automobili lies the remarkable tale of its founder – a journey that embodies entrepreneurial spirit, tireless determination, and the unwavering pursuit of a childhood dream-turned-reality.

During Monterey Car Week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Emilio Scervo (pictured below), the Chief Technology Officer for both Bugatti and Rimac (which is a Croatian hypercar manufacturer that has broken world records with its uber-fast Rimac Nevera). In addition to discussing the tech-forward advancements of this incredible electric hypercar, I learned more about the rapidly growing company’s background, which is unbelievably impressive.

The Rimac Nevera Electrified at Monterey Car Week

To start with, the Rimac Nevera is an automotive masterpiece that represents a harmonious merger of art and engineering, redefining the very concept of high-performance vehicles.

With a staggering 1,914 horsepower under its sleek exterior, the Nevera catapults from 0 to 60 mph in just 1.74 seconds with a top speed of 258 mph, not merely rewriting the rules of electric cars but also reimagining the idea of automotive exhilaration. Since Rimac currently produces about 50 units per year, this hypercar is a rare gem for any auto enthusiast.

As Emilio explained to me, Rimac manages the design, engineering, and production of every significant element in-house. This includes the powertrain, batteries, inverters, software, and various other critical components. These individually crafted parts are then meticulously assembled at Rimac’s Croatian headquarters before being seamlessly integrated on the assembly line, culminating in the creation of the road-ready Nevera.

The Nevera boasts a state-of-the-art electric powertrain that promises more than just heart-pounding acceleration. Let’s just put it this way – it can easily fly by a Lamborghini (as exemplified in a drag race that Chris Harris conducted on Top Gear – during which he exclaimed, “That’s not driving. That’s an out-of-body experience!”) and it’s even been tested against an F1 racecar in a straight-line race and, of course, it won yet again.

To put it simply – it’s mind-blowingly fast. Not to mention – it looks sexy and sophisticated too.

Tech Talk with Emilio Scervo, CTO of Bugatti Rimac

To explain more about the technological wonders that this hypercar possesses, here’s a glimpse of the conversation I had with Emilio Scervo, the CTO of Bugatti and Rimac.

CLP: The Rimac Nevera has been shattering records and expectations. Can you explain some of the cutting-edge technologies and engineering marvels that contribute to its phenomenal speed and performance?

ES: First of all, the architecture of the car is done in a way that delivers performance. So, for example, the power is split with a significant percentage on the rear axle in relation to the front axle. This is one of the basic foundations when you want to really deliver performance on a car because the transfer of acceleration and weight needs to be thought in relation to where the power sits and where you want to get traction. And, of course, the technology that enables the car to deliver the torque and the power basically independently from each of the wheels, can help with cornering and the performance of the car.

The battery technology, which at the time when developed was completely new, has opened a new frontier in the development of high-voltage performance cars. The car is capable of 1.4 megawatts, so it’s a pretty impressive level of power. The ability to deliver this power is with sophisticated control software that’s done in a way that’s not intimidating to the customer when driving at a normal speed, but at the same time, is capable of delivering impressive performance when needed. This is why the car has such wide capabilities – because it goes from a track-performing vehicle to a car that is able to deliver a straight-line performance. All the voltage technology and the software developed in-house are definitely based on this architecture, which creates the customer experience and performance.

CLP: Collaboration between engineers and designers is pivotal in creating a masterpiece, especially one on four wheels. How do Rimac’s design and engineering teams collaborate to integrate the cutting-edge technology that seamlessly goes into the cars?

ES: We have a unique collaborative model between the designers and engineers. I personally encourage my engineers to get out of their comfort zone often. I challenge them with their ideas and push them to think beyond standard things. We take an open-minded approach, which helps in generating and delivering ideas that normally wouldn’t really take place. For example, you can get very crazy concept ideas from the designers, but if the engineer doesn’t really get the encouragement, they just tend to go away. And, if the engineer just makes something that works on performance only, but doesn’t really have the shape or the appeal, or the emotional element to it, then it’s also not going to work. So, it’s really about encouraging the two teams to work together very closely to deliver concepts that combine beauty, aesthetics, performance, customer experience, etc.

CLP: How do you encourage your teams to overcome any obstacles and challenges that they face, including manufacturing constraints, especially when you have to push the limits on things if you’re doing something new?

ES: I encourage a culture of making mistakes, and not thinking it’s something wrong. I keep telling my team that they need to step back a little bit from just their specific task and think about the bigger picture of why we are doing something that is more difficult, and why we want to do something or implement an idea.

At Rimac, we all want to deliver a car that bends physics.

I give the team the opportunity to think strategically about what the brand mission is about. It’s not just about developing a single component, because they are part of delivering a dream car for a dream brand that is going to be iconic in the next few years. And this type of vision and encouragement to try, even if something doesn’t work, it helps to get things done by being focused on the delivery of new ideas. And yes, I push them very often. We go on this journey together, and they explain why we have to do something a certain way, and then we go back to the big picture again. We look for solutions, we don’t blame anyone for mistakes.

CLP: How do you infuse luxury and craftsmanship into the advanced technology of the Rimac Nevera?

ES: For example, we have engineered, manufactured, and assembled some of the interiors of the vehicles, such as the steering wheel. I’ve created a department called fine mechanics because there is such a new high content of analog components that they want to make sure the main engineers have the right skills to deliver them. Because we had to develop a lot of things in-house, this introduced the fascination of the craftsmanship for certain elements of the car that are built on the foundation of very high-tech components, such as the battery or the carbon fiber parts.

CLP: I often find that driven and successful people rely on a muse or inspirational person in their life to keep them feeling motivated, whether that be an author, a speaker, a leader, etc. I was curious if there’s anyone who motivates you, whether they’re figurative or literal, to be your best self, follow your dreams, and find your passion and resilience.

ES: The Obamas, for example, are extremely motivational when they speak. You can see that they just have a perspective on the way leaders look at our world, which is very different. It’s a very strategic, long-range vision they have, which they can explain very well. But, I mostly like their positive attitudes, because you have to do this when you’re leading people. You have to keep moving forward, thinking progressively, and making things happen.

The Inspiring Story of a Visionary Entrepreneur: Mate’s Journey of Bending Physics

The rapid rise of Rimac Automobili and the triumph of the Nevera would not have been possible without the dynamic vision and daring spirit of its founder, Mate Rimac, who’s made his way onto the Forbes “30 Under 30” list.

The company has quickly been gaining traction with sales in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and with 13 new dealer partners in major cities across the USA (including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, etc.), they’re starting to drive the acquisition of USA-based customers as well. Given the fact that the company launched only 15 years ago and now has over 1000 employees, they’re just starting to take the hypercar market by storm.

But, that’s not the only impressive part of this story…

Long before Rimac (the brand) made its heroic mark in the automotive world, Mate was a teenager with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge in electronics. He wasn’t just any kid; in his late teens, he became an award-winning prodigy, consistently collecting awards for electrical innovations. Because he was passionate about cars, he dreamed of creating the world’s fastest electric car, which ignited his drive and spurred him into action.

At the young age of 20, he launched the company in Croatia, a place that certainly wasn’t synonymous with automotive manufacturing, until now. As a young entrepreneur, he had an arduous struggle to raise capital for his fledgling business. Plus, he didn’t even have any employees for the first 2 years. So, to say these formative years were anything but easy is an understatement. During a speech, he remarked that they weren’t even sure they’d be able to pay the bills for the next month.

But, through valiant efforts and perseverance, early on in the company, Rimac started gaining international recognition for their work, which garnered the attention (and early investment) of the royal family of the UAE. His unwavering determination and ceaseless pursuit of perfection eventually proved fruitful when Porsche, an industry heavyweight, became a significant investor in Rimac.

That’s not all… In a remarkable twist of fate, Mate has recently taken another giant leap forward. He most recently acquired the iconic 100+-year-old Bugatti brand, firmly establishing himself as an industry titan. Today, he holds the title of Founder & CEO of Rimac Group, CEO of Rimac Technology, and also the CEO of Bugatti Rimac.

The Rimac Nevera is more than just a car; it’s an embodiment of ambition, innovation, and the unshakable belief that the electric future is not only possible but inevitable. If Rimac stands for anything (aside from producing ultra-fast, super-cool hypercars), it’s this – they’re a testament to what can be achieved when one dares to dream, innovate, and relentlessly pursue a vision for a better future. As the automotive industry undergoes this massive transformation into an electric era, Rimac Automobili is not just riding the wave; it’s leading the charge while forging the road ahead.

In the upcoming weeks, I’ll be sharing empowering advice and inspiring stories from other illustrious car designers, brand founders, and successful executives who are leading the auto industry.

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