Stephan Winkelmann will be retiring and Mate Rimac will succeed him.
After an initial announcement made in July, Bugatti & Rimac just revealed more information about the new Bugatti Rimac company. The newly formed automaker, which has been called “one of motoring’s most exciting cooperation project”, will be located in Sveta Nedeja near Zagreb, Croatia. Mate Rimac, founder, CEO and ideologist at Rimac Automobili is the CEO. Oliver Blume, chairman at Porsche, and Lutz Messchke, deputy chairman, CFO, are also part of the supervisory board.
Stephan Winkelmann will assume the role of CEO of Lamborghini after the company’s foundation. He has been President of Bugatti since January 1, 2018. Christophe Piochon, who was previously the Managing Director of Production and Logistics at Bugatti, will become the marque’s president. Mate Rimac, Bugatti Rimac’s COO, will also be joining him.
“It is an honor to be the CEO of this joint company and open a new chapter for all involved. I’m excited to see the impact Bugatti Rimac has on the industry, and how we develop new hyper-sport cars and technologies. Mate Rimac stated that it was difficult to find a better combination of people and vehicles for exciting new projects.
Porsche has 45 percent ownership of Bugatti Rimac, and will join the joint company to be a strategic partner. Rimac holds a controlling 55 percent stake in the manufacturer. Both Rimac and Bugatti will continue operating as independent brands, with production in Zagreb, and Molsheim respectively. Bugatti Rimac, which will remain in Sveta Nedeja, near Zagreb for now, will eventually move to Rimac’s new campus, currently under construction.
Bugatti will, however, continue to build its cars in Molsheim, where all 135 employees will remain employed for the long-term. With approximately 435 employees, Bugatti Rimac will start its operations in Croatia with 300 of those workers being based there. Although no details are currently available about new products, Mate Rimac has promised ” some truly exceptional projects” in the future.