Rimac Eyes Full Control of Bugatti: What a Porsche Exit Could Mean for the Hypercar Future
By Team Dailyrevs April 5, 2025
Rimac Wants Full Control Of Bugatti: Inside the Deal That Could Reshape the Hypercar World
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Rimac has made a preliminary offer to buy out Porsche’s 45% stake in Bugatti Rimac.
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If successful, Rimac gains full control of Bugatti, potentially accelerating its move into all-electric hypercars.
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Porsche's pivot may reflect broader automotive market pressures and internal restructuring goals.
The Big Picture
The automotive world is abuzz with reports that Rimac, the electric hypercar disruptor from Croatia, is preparing to buy out Porsche's 45% stake in the Bugatti Rimac joint venture. If this deal goes through, it would mark a significant power shift—one that could electrify Bugatti’s future in more ways than one.
How It All Started
In 2021, an audacious partnership gave rise to Bugatti Rimac: Rimac held a 55% majority, and Porsche, a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group, retained 45%. Now, it seems a shift of power is once again on the horizon. According to various reputable outlets, including Bloomberg, Rimac has made a non-binding offer to Porsche that would value the venture at over €1 billion ($1.1 billion).
What makes the saga particularly intriguing is the shift in corporate culture. Only a few months back, Porsche was reportedly contemplating increasing its stake in the joint venture—now Rimac wants the whole thing. Mate Rimac, founder and CEO of Rimac Group, confirmed to media that talks had occurred, but he publicly indicated at a media event in late 2024 that
"The company was doing so well that he would actually like Rimac to increase its shares instead of selling them.”
A Quick Recap of the Stakes
| Company | Ownership in Bugatti Rimac | Additional Interests |
|---|---|---|
| Rimac Group | 55% | Majority shareholder; backed by SoftBank, Goldman Sachs, Hyundai |
| Porsche AG | 45% | Also owns ~20% of Rimac Group itself |
This speaks volumes about the confidence and momentum behind Rimac's leadership.
Porsche's Shifting Priorities
Insiders suggest that Porsche may be stepping back, not because it doubts the joint venture’s future, but due to internal challenges—like slumping EV demand, China market instability, and supply chain disruptions. The company is said to be refocusing its capital strategy, possibly simplifying its investment landscape to brace for long-term restructuring.
A Porsche spokesperson told Bloomberg:
"[Porsche] continuously evaluates potential optimizations for its shareholdings and works closely together with its business partners and co-investors."
Although they didn’t confirm any active deal, the tone signals openness to change.
What Happens If Rimac Gains Full Control?
Should Porsche exit, Rimac would be controlling the Bugatti brand all on its own for the first time in modern history, and Bugatti’s next-generation models could feature Rimac’s cutting-edge EV technology, demonstrated by its all-electric Nevera.
More battery systems and electric motors could be incorporated for its future Bugatti line, including complete all-electric hypercars past the Bugatti Tourbillon, slated for launch in the next few years.
The Tourbillon demonstrates a V-16 combustion engine in conjunction with three electric motors for a total of 1,800 hp; however, Mate Rimac has hinted he would have taken it one step further had he received full responsibility over the brand.
What Next?
Negotiations are at an early stage, thus there is no guarantee the agreement will close, but there are serious implications. If Rimac takes Bugatti's reins, the French marque could soon have a flagship EV hypercar brand under Mate Rimac's leadership. In any case, we are headed toward something exciting.
Source: Bloomberg