Mate Rimac's Robotaxi Project: The Future of Transportation

Rimac's Secret Robotaxi Venture

Mate Rimac, the founder and CEO of Rimac Automobili, a Croatian developer of electric hypercars and components, initiated a distinct company almost three years ago. This new entity is dedicated to the development of electric robotaxis.

Maintaining Secrecy

The company currently operates in a stealth mode, with limited information available to the public. Rimac shared with TechCrunch during TC Sessions: Mobility 2021 his intention to maintain this confidentiality until the team is prepared to present their advancements.

Rimac did disclose some specifics regarding this electric robotaxi undertaking. The company maintains offices in both Croatia and the United Kingdom, with potential for expansion into additional locations.

Global Ambitions

Rimac also stated the company’s aim to become a global operator. He anticipates revealing the project’s progress in the early stages of next year.

“The reason for operating in stealth is to avoid the prevalence of unsubstantiated claims within the industry,” Rimac explained. “Many companies announce ambitious plans without ultimately delivering on them, and we aim to avoid that pattern – preferring to consistently exceed expectations.”

Unintentional Disclosure

The company’s existence remained largely unknown until recently. A filing with the Croatia Ministry of Transport, discovered by local media last month, detailed a proposed project centered around an urban mobility ecosystem utilizing electric autonomous vehicles. While acknowledging this unintentional disclosure, Rimac intends to unveil their work through a proper announcement.

Beyond Hypercars

“The public primarily recognizes us as a hypercar manufacturer,” Rimac noted, referencing the perception of the company as catering to a clientele with substantial wealth. Rimac Automobili recently launched the production version of its Concept 2 vehicle, now known as the Nevera, which carries a price tag of $2.44 million.

“However, we are engaged in numerous other projects and possess a long-term vision. I believe that new mobility solutions will fundamentally reshape society, much like mobile phones did. Apple’s impact extended far beyond disrupting Nokia; it transformed our daily lives. I foresee a similar paradigm shift in the realm of mobility.”

Focus on the Ecosystem

Rimac refrained from providing detailed information concerning the autonomous driving system, sensors, or vehicle design.

“Many are concentrating on individual components, such as the autonomous driving system itself,” he observed. “We believe the true differentiator may lie within the broader ecosystem of autonomous mobility, rather than the system itself.”

User Experience as a Key Differentiator

Rimac further emphasized that the user experience of the robotaxi is a primary focus. He believes it has the potential to be significantly different from current development efforts.