“If you say in Croatia that 10,000 kuna a month is a low salary, you will be crucified,” says Rimac.
The Croatian Postal Bank’s conference “Strategies in Times of Interruption – New Rules of Competitiveness" was held yesterday in Zagreb. It included renowned Croatian innovator and founder of Rimac Automobili Mate Rimac, as well as other entrepreneurs and experts, reports Index.hr on June 7, 2018.
“The automotive industry will be turned upside-down in the next two decades. Cars being developed today will come to the market in 2025 and will be sold until 2028 or 2030. We will no longer be owners of cars, and we will not drive them. I am telling you this as a car enthusiast, but this is not just my opinion but the consensus in the industry,” said Rimac.
He added that cars spend too much time parked and that it makes no sense that people are owners of something which is not being used 90 percent of the time. “Drivers see 100 or 200 metres in front of them. Cars which will do the job instead of us will be much better and will see everything, thanks to being connected to other vehicles,” Rimac said, adding that the current car manufacturers will be producing cars just for companies such as Uber.
Rimac also discussed the problems that young companies face in Croatia. “The largest problem is the talented people we would like to hire. There are not enough such people. We have to get them from abroad, but you cannot attract top experts with salaries from 10,000 to 15,000 kuna a month. But if you say in Croatia that 10,000 kuna a month is a low salary, you will be crucified,” said Rimac.
Rimac and Antonio Šeparović, one of the founders of the Oradian company, agreed that Croatian businesses could be globally competitive, but this requires a stimulating environment. “The ecosystem is important since no company is an island. Unfortunately, in Croatia there are no venture capital funds,” said Rimac, while Šeparović warned about the importance of discovering and bringing talent and lowering taxes and fees.
Industries such as banking and insurance are facing challenges brought about by the digital transformation. “There are some ten disruptions in the industry right now, but I am more concerned about those we do not know and which will come in the future, when we may not be able to compete,” said Damir Vanđelić, the CEO of the Croatia Osiguranje insurance company.
Tomislav Vuić, the CEO of the Croatian Postal Bank, stressed that it is difficult to forecast the future of the banking sector, but noted that his bank had the advantage of being a small bank in global terms, which makes it easier to adapt to new technological trends quickly. He hopes there will be more companies in Croatia such as Rimac Automobili and Oradian.
Translated from Index.hr.
