To challenge Asia’s dominance in this sector, BMW and Rimac Croatia have announced their collaboration to further develop battery technology for high-voltage electric vehicles (EV). Rimac, which is 45 percent owned by Porsche AG, is expanding its role as a supplier of battery systems and powertrain components and aims to produce 100,000 batteries per year by 2026.
The move comes as automakers face pressure to reduce capital costs for electric vehicles, and Lucid, another high-profile electric vehicle startup, also supplies electric drive technology to automakers such as Aston Martin. By introducing these products, the company aims to diversify its revenue streams. Rimac CEO Mitt Rimac said the German automaker will integrate Rimac battery systems into high-performance models in 2023, with annual production expected to be around 40,000 vehicles and many more.
However, BMW declined to specify the batteries or models involved in the partnership, saying that the cylindrical batteries that power the Neue Classe EV range, due to launch in 2025, were excluded. BMW accounted for 15% of all electric vehicle sales last year. A share of 50% is expected by 2030.
The German automaker has its own battery cell research center, but relies on its partners for large-scale development, awarding major contracts to CATL and EVE Energy for battery cell production in China and Europe. We will do it.