Hyundai Motor Group and partner Rimac Automobili recently met to discuss the potential of the new automotive industry in Croatia.
The meeting was hosted by Rimac founder and CEO Mate Rimac at the Rimac headquarters on the outskirts of Zagreb with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and ministers and senior government officials in attendance.
Hyundai Motor Group’s executive vice president Thomas Schemera was invited to join the occasion as Rimac’s partner and shareholder, along with Lutz Mescheke, deputy chairman and member of the executive board of Porsche.
“We are encouraged by the Croatian government’s support for our partnership with Rimac. We will further bolster our strategic partnership in developing high-performance electric vehicle and fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) prototypes across the Hyundai Motor Group brands,” said Schemera.
“To be attractive to automotive manufacturers and suppliers, Croatia needs to develop comparative advantages over other countries. Rimac wants to contribute to attracting investors to Croatia, and our role is to point to the needs and expectations of the auto industry,” said Rimac.
“Having our shareholders support the initiative is highly encouraging. Them joining the event proves the strength of the strategic partnership between Rimac and Hyundai Motor Group, focused on collaboration in the development of the disruptive technologies that steer the new auto industry.”
In May, Hyundai Motor Group announced an investment of €80m (US$90.3m) in Rimac. Since then, the two companies have been working closely together to develop prototypes for an electric version of Hyundai’s N brand sports car and a high-performance FCEV with the intent of bringing them to market at a later time.