Rimac Set To Supply BMW With EV Batteries

Rimac and BMW have inked a supply agreement earlier this year, and it is set to see the Croatian EV specialist supply the latter Bavarian marque with its EV batteries.

Croatian electric vehicle (EV) specialists Rimac just inked what it dubs as its “largest and most ambitious” partnership yet. Earlier this week, the firm just inked a “long-term” deal to supply German automaker BMW with its EV batteries.

Specifically, the agreement was made by BMW Group with Rimac’s engineering division, Rimac Technology. No financial terms of the deal were disclosed, as were indications of the volumes of EV batteries that Rimac will supply the Bavarian marque with.

However, Rimac did acknowledge that the deal requires it to equip its battery factory with new “sophisticated automated production lines.” It adds that a “significant portion” of the Rimac Campus in Zagreb will be dedicated towards development for this supply agreement with BMW.

No financial terms or supply volumes were disclosed, but founder Mate Rimac did acknowledge that a "significant portion" of the RImac Campus in Zagreb will be dedicated towards development for this supply deal.

Following this deal, many observers are calling it a ‘full-circle’ moment for Rimac and its founder Mate Rimac. The latter famously established his company by converting his 1984 BMW 3 Series to electric power in his garage using technology he developed and created himself.

“It’s a perfect piece of symmetry to partner with the BMW Group Today,” expresses Mate Rimac following the deal’s announcement earlier this week. He also denoted that this deal marks a pivotal moment in the growth of Rimac Technology.

Despite this landmark supply deal, it remains unclear what it has in store for BMW’s existing supply framework, though many experts tout that production-bound versions of the BMW Neue Klasse concepts will harness Rimac-supplied batteries.

Industry observers reckon that this deal will see production-bound versions of the BMW Neue Klasse EV concepts adopt Rimac-supplied batteries.

Presently, BMW procures its EV batteries form five global sites, and it is in the midst of building new sites in China, Hungary, Mexico, and the United States. A new factory in Germany is also being established to assemble EV batteries primed in EV that roll out of BMW’s Munich, Dingolfing and Regensburg plants.

BMW has confirmed preliminary tech specs of its next-generation batteries that are due to power the Neue Klasse models, which will adopt cylindrical cells that promise 30% more range, higher charging speeds, and lighter weight compared to what the brand currently uses.

In light of which, it also remains unclear if Rimac will assist in refining the chemistry and production process for these new batteries, or whether BMW intends to adopt multiple battery types.