Serving as a diverse company, Bugatti Rimac (active from November 21) falls within the clientele of the Rimac Technology business. The Rimac Group is a shareholder in Bugatti Rimac with 55% stake and Porsche with the following 45%. Rimac Group now owns the individual company of Rimac Technology. The fresh company has goals to develop its areas of expertise in the engineering, development, production and supply of differing systems that Rimac is renowned for – such as battery systems, electric drive units, electronic systems and user interface components.
A company with superior electronic expertise, Rimac Technology works closely with automotive manufacturers across Europe. These two realms collaborate in projects like the expansion of the Nevera, taking customers step by step through the process of product creation. Rimac Technology is especially known for their work with international OEMs such as Porsche, Hyundai, Kia, Automobili Pininfarina, Koenigsegg and Aston Martin, with other projects yet to be announced. With the development of Rimac Technology’s manufacturing capacities, the brand has goals to create tens of thousands of advanced systems per year by 2024.
The solely independent company works as an individual manufacturer, including sponsors into the Rimac Group business. Rimac Technology prioritizes clientele confidentiality with all projects, and that each endeavor will be completed to request of necessary cost, performance and within sufficient time.
Mate Rimac, CEO of Rimac Group, now heads both Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Technology. Although both the brands operate separately, they both work under Bugatti Rimac with shared R&B along with other roles. The potential of both Bugatti and Rimac automobiles will be corresponded to Bugatti Rimac, merging ideas and innovation in research and development, production and other areas.
Mate Rimac states, “If we go back to the very beginning of the Rimac Automobili business in 2009, the dream for me was to build my own electric hypercar. With Nevera we believe we’ve achieved that dream, creating a car that is not only the fastest accelerating in the world, but also comfortable, usable and brimming with our advanced technology. But Nevera isn’t just a standalone project, it’s a showcase of what Rimac Technology can do free from the costs or volume restraints of a large-scale manufacturer. We believe once you’ve pushed the technology as far as it can go, it makes it a lot easier to scale up to higher volume and lower cost. The e-Axles, Torque Vectoring, battery systems, connectivity, AI, and countless other electrical systems on Nevera are all our own creations, and each of them can be scaled to suit applications you might find on a range of higher volume performance vehicles.
Separating the technology business into its own entity is a natural step as the focus of the two markets, hypercars and components, are completely different. For example, the products of Rimac Technology, while being on the cutting edge of performance, also need to be extremely cost competitive and producible at huge scales, while those issues are secondary for the hypercar business. This new structure will enable each company of the Rimac Group to flourish to their full potential, while still sharing the synergies between them – for example using our own hypercars as testbeds for new technology before we offer it to other OEMs.”
Rimac Automobili officially joins forces with Bugatti Automobiles under the recently announced, Bugatti Rimac d.o.o. The new company sees two motor vehicle powerhouses generate an exciting movement in the automotive and technology industries, originally initiated and strongly supported by the sports car manufacturer Porsche AG.
Rimac’s short but rich 10-year history from garage start-up by one man, Mate Rimac, took a big leap forward to begin official operating under Bugatti Rimac as of November 1st.
The Rimac Group is the major shareholder in Bugatti Rimac with a 55% stake. Mate Rimac will retain his shareholding in Rimac Group at 35%, with Porsche at 22%, Hyundai Motor Group doing the same at 11%, and other investors making up 32%. The development, production, and supply of battery systems, drivetrains, and other EV components that Rimac is known for and trusted by, will be separated into a new entity, Rimac Technology, that is 100% owned by the Rimac Group.
Bugatti Rimac has the unique combination of two automotive and technological trailblazers. Rimac’s distinctive agility, technical expertise, and relentless innovation in the EV sphere, along with Bugatti’s 110-year heritage of design and engineering of some of the world’s most iconic hypercars, are now combined in the leading hypercar company. Porsche plays a strong role in the joint company as a strategic partner. Along with two managers, the Stuttgart based sports car manufacturer appointed two Supervisory Board members, Oliver Blume and Lutz Meschke.
Mate Rimac’s leadership and strategic direction that has allowed Rimac to become an industry frontrunner means he is exceptionally skilled to lead the company as Chief Executive Officer. As CEO of Rimac Group, he runs both Bugatti Rimac and the new division, Rimac Technology.
Bugatti Rimac’s global headquarters is situated at Rimac’s current base on the outskirts of Zagreb, Croatia, but in time will transition to the recently announced €200M and 200.000m2 Rimac Campus, also serving as the home of Rimac Technology. With construction having now begun, joint research and development of future Rimac Automobili and Bugatti hypercars will ultimately take place there, with projected opening in 2023.
High-tech innovation forms the basis of the state-of-the-art facility, with the capacity to host 2,500 curiosity-driven people and a hive of groundbreaking developments. Bugatti Rimac operates with 435 employees as part of the new company, 300 of headquartered in Zagreb and 135 in Molsheim, France. In addition,180 people at Bugatti Engineering’s location in Wolfsburg, Germany, are supporting the new company. Rimac Technology consists of over 900 employees whilst the Rimac Group tackles over 1,300 employees across its various locations.
Bugatti Rimac’s new Board of Management has determined Christophe Piochon as Chief Operating Officer. He formerly held the position of Director General at Bugatti Automobiles and guarantees the continuation of the manufactory with its worldwide outstanding quality. Larissa Fleischer became Chief Financial Officer, previously being the head of controlling at Porsche in the areas of digitalization and the development of new business models. Lastly, Emilio Scervo is named Chief Technology Officer, having held the same title before at Rimac Automobili.
Rimac Automobili and Bugatti Automobiles will each continue to operate as separate brands and manufacturers, retaining their individual production facilities respectively, as well as the distribution channels. Rimac Technology will continue to innovate, developing vehicle systems and technologies for many global OEMs.
Commenting on the first day of Bugatti Rimac operations, CEO Mate Rimac says, “I am honored to be leading this new fusion of automotive minds and begin what will no doubt be a successful, revolutionary and exciting new chapter for everyone involved. I am also extremely curious to oversee the profound impact Bugatti Rimac will have on the industry, and I look forward to developing innovative new hypercars and technologies.”
He also claims that “[it’s] difficult to find a better match than Rimac and Bugatti. What each party brings to the table in terms of technical expertise, know-how and automotive history makes for an electrifying recipe. Rimac’s fast-paced operations and electrification skills are the perfect complement to Bugatti’s exceptional heritage and craftsmanship. Stay tuned for some truly extraordinary projects in the future.”
“I am convinced that we have found the right mix of experience and know-how, innovative strength and team spirit for the management,” says Lutz Meschke, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board and member of the board for Finance and IT at Porsche AG. “That’s why I’m very optimistic and because the project is very close to my heart, I will continue to accompany it closely and passionately in the future.”
Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Board of Management at Porsche, named this merger as “the perfect solution” for everyone involved, “Together, we are creating a high-performance automotive company. We have succeeded in positioning the traditional Bugatti brand with its charisma for the future in a way that creates value. Bugatti embodies fascination and passion, and Rimac has great innovative strength and tech expertise.”
LEADING AUTOMOTIVE SOFTWARE COMPANIES AUTOFUTURA AND GFORCES MERGE
Merger brings together Autofutura’s real-time data insight with GForces’ leading-edge e-commerce solutions, to create a new auto tech group
Created at a time of rapid digital acceleration in automotive retail, the new group enables car makers, dealers and finance providers to grow the lifetime value of their customers, by accelerating sales, simplifying the customer journey and improving customer retention
Two of the automotive industry’s leading retail software suppliers, Autofutura and GForces, have merged to form a new group. With the rapid acceleration of the digitization of the automotive sales process, the companies have come together to maximize sales efficiency and improve the way consumers buy cars.
The new group, backed by Inflexion Private Equity, sees the combination of Autofutura, the global, data-driven business intelligence provider, with market leading automotive e-commerce and omnichannel supplier, GForces. It also benefits from the expertise of the recently acquired Chrysalis Loyalty business, now an integral part of Autofutura.
The first of its kind in the industry, the new group aims to connect car maker, finance provider, dealer and consumer to optimize the entire customer journey – through the provision of software and data services.
The new group will be led by two highly experienced executives; data intelligence expert Christian Erlandson as CEO and automotive veteran David Riemenschneider as Chairman. Autofutura and GForces already serve 20 of the world’s leading car manufacturers and over 10,000 locations, across 96 countries. Headquartered out of the UK, its global presence includes offices in Australia, Canada, Germany, Vietnam, UAE and the USA.
Christian Erlandson, CEO, commented: “The digitization of the automotive sales process is accelerating at an unprecedented pace and now is the time to combine the expertise of Autofutura and GForces. By merging Autofutura’s data intelligence insight with GForces’ e-commerce solutions, there is huge potential to support our customers in streamlining the consumer journey, accelerating sales and driving revenue from the first transaction.”
Simon Turner, Managing Partner, Inflexion, said: “The combination of Autofutura with GForces unlocks a unique and highly relevant technology proposition for the automotive retail industry, against a backdrop of accelerating change and disruption for dealers and OEMs. We are delighted to be backing this team to create such an exciting auto tech group, by merging two outstanding private businesses with a long track record of growth.”
The newly merged group was advised by GCA Altium, Headpoint Advisors, Higgs & Sons and Taylor Wessing.
With every query typed into a search bar, users provide a glimpse into their considerations and intentions. By compiling top searches, we’re able to render a strong representation of the population and gain insight into their behavior. In this Google Auto Trends Report, we are excited to use Google data to identify and compare in-vehicle trends across three different markets: US, Germany, and Japan.
The goal of this report is to help auto marketers, researchers and manufacturers better understand what’s top of mind for consumers when it comes to driving. We are proud to share this iteration and look forward to hearing back from you.
– Olivier Zimmer & Yarden Horwitz
Trendspotting Project Leads, Google
OUR FOCUS
The auto industry is undergoing major shifts: adapting to electrification, the rise of mobility services, and a future driven by automation. But with such a focus on tomorrow, what are the opportunities that OEMs might be missing today? This report brings a consumer lens to help answer that question. Using Google Search data, we explore what technology and accessories consumers are currently interested in bringing into their vehicles.
With it, we hope to unlock new opportunities for OEMs to meet driver needs, wants, and desires that exist right now.
How are consumers looking to enhance their driving experience?
TO TACKLE THIS QUESTION… We identified the biggest search trends, by pulling top volume queries related to the automotive category and looking at their monthly volume from September 2015 to August 2017. We categorized these trends, by removing any seasonal effect and then measuring the year-over-year growth, velocity, and acceleration for each search query. Based on these metrics, we were able to classify the queries into similar trend patterns. We then curated the most significant trends to illustrate interesting shifts in behavior. We went deeper. With every report, we strive to advance our methodologies to better understand category trends and what’s driving them. For this report, we looked beyond Google Search to YouTube data. We analyzed the language within top related videos to uncover how trends are talked about, and the implications for brands. We also stepped away from the data and spoke to over 1,000 consumers across the three markets to better understand how the trends manifest in people’s lives.
US SPOTLIGHT PUTTING PETS FIRST
When it comes to in-vehicle-related search trends, Americans are putting their pets first. Dog- and pet-related rising search queries are particularly prominent across the top trending lists in the US when compared to the other two markets. Pets are like family now and people’s search interest reflects that. What opportunities does that unlock for OEMS to better design for a broader definition of family, one that puts pets in the passenger seat?
While consumers in Germany and Japan are also searching for pet-related vehicle equipment and accessories, the average American was 36X as likely to search than the average person in Germany and 10X as likely than the average person in Japan.
GERMANY SPOTLIGHT TRANSITIONING TO DIGITAL
In Germany, DAB, or Digital Audio Broadcasting, is a top trending search term. Interest is likely driven by a country-wide initiative launched in 2010 to convert all radio and television services to digital in the coming years. With DAB being top of mind for consumers right now, how might auto manufacturers activate around this interest (e.g., highlight DAB technology in your vehicle and the benefits of it)?
Even though the country-wide initiative launched in 2010, the DAB search trend is experiencing sustained year-over-year growth at a rate of 41% in Germany.
JAPAN SPOTLIGHT A HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Top rising searches in Japan indicate a consumer desire to customize car interiors for comfort and aesthetics. From seat covers and car curtains to fridges and humidifiers, we see that consumers in Japan are turning their cars into little homes away from home. What opportunities are there for auto manufacturers to consider the car as not just a vehicle for driving but as an extension of one’s home?
The average person in Japan is almost 2X as likely to search for customization than the average person in the US, and almost 5X times as likely than the average person in Germany.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MARKET SPOTLIGHTS
While the biggest trends in each market vary, one thing is the same across all markets: larger cultural shifts happening outside of the car are influencing what people are searching for when it comes to enhancing their driving experience.
– Americans are re-defining “family.” Consumers in the US are bringing their pets along for the ride, and prioritizing the needs of their new passengers.
– DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) is top of mind for German consumers right now, following a 2010 country-wide initiative to convert all radio and TV signals to digital.
– In Japan, consumers are seeking to recreate homey comfort and style for their in-vehicle experiences.
A CULTURAL DESIRE TO RECORD HAS COME TO AUTO
As cameras have an increasing presence in our day-to-day lives, we see our cultural desire to record and capture take roots in the auto industry. We’ve discovered that the biggest in-vehicle search trend across all three markets is onboard (in-car) cameras. While many vehicles currently feature backup cameras, the following section demonstrates that consumers are looking for different types of onboard cameras to meet additional needs, presenting opportunities for manufacturers to think about how to integrate new styles of onboard cameras directly into vehicle design.
THE ONBOARD CAMERA IS A HUGE CONSUMER-LED TREND
Among the top in-vehicle-related searches, onboard cameras are trending across all three markets. In fact, search volume for onboard cameras is 3X as large as search volume for autonomous driving. Consumer search interest around onboard cameras reveals near-term opportunities for OEMs to consider, from product innovation to marketing communications.
CONSUMERS ARE SEARCHING FOR ALL KINDS OF ONBOARD CAMERAS
The variety of language consumers use to describe the same products (i.e., dash cam, dash camera, car security camera) demonstrates that the onboard camera category is just in its early stages, with terminology not yet fully established. That said, we see that there are already a variety of products on the market that cater to different consumer needs. There is an opportunity to own the language around onboard cameras. How might an auto manufacturer establish its brand within the lexicon of onboard camera terminology?
CONSUMER INTEREST IS TAKING OFF
While footage of events such as the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor kickstarted interest in onboard cameras, seasonal peaks around the holiday period from 2015 onwards indicate that search data is being driven by consumer purchase intent. Today, we see the most sustained growth related to onboard camera interest coming from Japan with 23% year-over-year growth. Interest in the US and Germany are also on the rise and have accelerated in the last three months – growing at 35% and 25%, respectively. This increase in interest demonstrates that demand across all three markets is here to stay.
AND HERE’S WHERE IT’S GOING
Beyond “dash cams” and “backup cams,” we’re seeing consumer appetite for new types of onboard cameras that meet different needs. This demonstrates that the onboard camera trend will continue to evolve and embed itself into the driving experience.
1. Capturing every angle.
CONSUMERS WANT US DE JP ONBOARD CAMERAS THAT RECORD MORE THAN THE ROAD AHEAD
Drivers want to make sure that all angles, inside and outside of the vehicle, are being captured. Search interest for all direction cameras are growing around ~100% year-over-year across the three markets. How might auto manufacturers extend driver vision even further, and make blind spots a thing of the past?
2. Seamless integration.
CONSUMERS WANT SLEEK, INTEGRATED ONBOARD CAMERA SOLUTIONS
Searches for “mirror” and “hidden” onboard cameras are gaining strong traction in the US and Japan, indicating that consumers in these markets want more unobtrusive camera options. While the trend is sustained at a growth rate of 28% year-over-year in Japan, interest across all types of discrete onboard cameras is growing at a rate of 303% year-over-year in the US. How else can auto manufacturers integrate onboard cameras and monitors in a more seamless way?
3. Enhanced features.
CONSUMERS WANT ONBOARD US DE JP CAMERAS TO BE SMARTER, BETTER, AND TO DO MORE FOR THEM
Specifically, they are looking for cameras that are HD and also offer advanced features such as GPS, night vision, and motion activation. GPS is the most in-demand feature in Germany and Japan, growing at a sustained year-over-year rate of 25% and 34%, respectively. Cameras unlocked new technical capabilities for smartphones – how might they do the same for the vehicle? What are other ways that auto manufacturers might enhance the driving experience through the platform of an onboard camera?
WHY DO CONSUMERS CARE ABOUT ONBOARD CAMERAS?
Using Google data, as well as qualitative and cultural investigation for added context, we uncovered two reasons why consumers are so interested in onboard cameras.
1. Support
CONSUMERS WANT A SECOND PAIR OF EYES WHILE ON THE ROAD
Consumers are using onboard cameras for driving assistance and support. Interest in backup cameras continues to grow at 22% year-over-year. As seen earlier, consumers are looking for cameras that cover all angles – they want to get rid of blind spots. Camera capabilities enable consumers to drive safer and smarter. How else can extended vision enable consumers to drive more confidently?
2. Surveillance
CONSUMERS WANT PEACE OF MIND IN CASE OF INCIDENT
Just as consumers use security cameras to protect their homes, consumers across all three markets are demonstrating strong intent to use onboard cameras for security and surveillance of their cars. What this tells us is that the car alarm is no longer enough – consumers are bolstering surveillance with onboard cameras, to monitor their cars from afar and capture evidence. How might auto manufacturers continue to evolve security systems and services for vehicles to enhance driver peace of mind?
Contributors to this report:
Kana Yoshii Automotive Account Manager (JP) Yarden Horwitz Trendspotting Project Lead Olivier Zimmer Trendspotting Project Lead Joonsu Yang Trendspotting Analyst Manuel Kekeisen Automotive Account Manager (DE) Danny Brown Head of Analytics, Global Clients & Agencies, Google Ali Pulver Human Truths Strategist, Google Thomas Chi Global Analytical Lead, Google Ed Westberg Data Scientist, Google Colm O’Grada Data Scientist, Google
The average person in Japan is almost 2X as likely to search for customization than the average person in the US, and almost 5X times as likely than the average person in Germany.
