September the 14th, 2022 - Croatian entrepreneur Mate Rimac is by far Croatia's most successful entrepreneurial story of the modern day. Referred to as Europe's Elon Musk, Rimac has done what nobody else has - created some of the world's most incredible hypercars in a country that doesn't even have an automotive industry to speak of. His impressive plan, the Rimac Campus, is also progressing very well.

The upcoming Rimac Campus, which will not only shine the spotlight on Croatia even more strongly in regard to entrepreneurship, investment and of course - the automotive industry, will also provide enviable employment opportunities to many who would likely have headed off abroad in search of the jobs they were educated for.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the absolutely stunning Rimac Nevera hypercar, as well as key components for future Rimac and Bugatti models, will be produced at the Rimac Campus in Kerestinac, which is currently under construction. The much anticipated Rumac Campus spans a constructed area of 100,000 square metres, and a total area of 200,000 square metres. It is worth an enormous 200 million euros in total.

Mate Rimac is no stranger to social media and frequently publishes posts, videos and photos about what he is currently working on, engaging well with an always interested audience. He recently took to his personal Facebook profile on which he published an impressive interactive 3D model of the current state of the construction site of the future Rimac Campus, which clearly shows that the works are progressing quite well indeed.

The completion of the first phase of construction of the Rimac Campus is planned for 2023, and in the long term it should become a workplace for around 2,500 employees.

The Livno-born entrepreneur has taken the world of cars by storm from a country that hasn't provided the best footing for going it alone, and his dogged determination is something Nikola Tesla, his fellow countryman, would be very proud of.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated business and Made in Croatia sections.

August the 30th, 2022 - Kreso Coric, the sales director for Mate Rimac's company Rimac Automobili and the man responsible for naming the stunning Nevera, has stepped down from his position.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Kreso Coric came up with the name for Rimac's remarkable electric hypercar after developing a set of colours for the exterior and interior. Everything, according to Coric, started with ''Nevera Blue''.

Kreso Coric has held one of the most important positions within Rimac Automobili since the beginning of 2016, where he arrived after working as a business development manager at a company called Double A. Prior to that, he was regional marketing manager at Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy. Since July 2021, he has been the chief commercial director of the Milanese company Zagato, and since November of the same year he has been the chief executive officer of the Croatian company Quantum Solace Consulting, Lider reports.

''What a jouney this has been. I've been here almost seven years, but it feels like I joined just a few weeks ago. I remember when Monika Mikac invited me for the first informal conversation (which honestly was more like a chat) back in 2015 about the sales position at Rimac Automobili. Without any expectations, I was given the opportunity to manage sales and everything related to it. I had zero contacts and zero knowledge about the world of cars.

Many people in the office looked down on me with derision and continuously undermined my activities. However, I overcame all that and succeeded with the support of many good people in the company, as well as my partners - I cannot thank them enough,'' Kreso Coric explained in his announcement.

''It's sad. But sometimes moving on with life starts with saying goodbye. The time has come for me to say goodbye to the Bugatti Rimac team, to all the wonderful people there, after almost seven years as Global Head of Sales. I think goodbyes are sad, so I would like to say hello and open my arms to a new adventure, so buckle up,'' Kreso Coric concluded his post.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated business section.

August 2022 - Meet the Bugatti W16 Mistral, the first Bugatti conceived and developed under Bugatti Rimac - and already sold out!

I seem to be writing a lot about Mate Rimac these days... 

From being the first person to drive across the new Peljesac Bridge, which connected Croatia, with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic the passenger in the elite RImac Nevera, to Formula  1 legend Nico Rosberg taking delivery of the first Nevera for over $2 million.  

Surely cars can't get more expensive than that? Well, apparently, they can...

Rimac acquired the prestigious Bugatti brand last year, and he posted on Facebook about the first fruits  of that new partnership from California  this morning:

Ladies and gentlemen, the Bugatti W16 Mistral. The first new Bugatti conceived and developed under Bugatti Rimac. A celebration of the glorious W16 - the last of its kind before we move to the next generation of hybrid Bugattis. 99 units will be built at 5 Million Euro each. We have shown the car only to existing Bugatti owners during the last weeks and they loved the car so much that it is already completely sold out. Bugatti is therefore again sold out (there is no new Bugatti that can be ordered today) - with all production slots being spoken for until the end of 2025. Congratulations to the whole team on this amazing achievement!

Quite extraordinary. And yet another milestone in this unbelievable journey. 

You can follow the latest from Mate Rimac in the dedicated TCN section.

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What is it like to live in Croatia? An expat for 20 years, you can follow my series, 20 Ways Croatia Changed Me in 20 Years, starting at the beginning - Business and Dalmatia.

Follow Paul Bradbury on LinkedIn.

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 August 14, 2022 - The other side of the Rimac business - supplying components for other car companies - is about to ramp up, as Mate Rimac gives a video tour of the first major battery production line.

It is more than six years since we first featured Mate Rimac on TCN, painstakingly transcribing and then translating the 46 questions posed by occasional TCN contributor, Sasa Cvetojevic, from their interview on N1 television. You can read that very interesting interview here - Mate Rimac: Concept One is Just Our Flagship Product, Technology is Our Forte.

And while most of the chat about Rimac at the moment revolves about the first sale of the Nevera to Formula 1 legend, Nico Rosberg, as well as Rimac and the Nevera being the first to drive over the new Peljesac Bridge connecting Croatia, the core business of the Rimac empire is actually developing technology and components for other car companies. And on that note, Mate Rimac posted a rather significant update and video tour on his private Facebook page yesterday:

Installation of our first 50.000 unit/year battery production line!

This is a battery that we’ve been developing for the last 3 years for a German car company. We have produced hundreds of prototypes, and now it is getting serious – the production line equipment has arrived – we actually had to fly it into Croatia with a Boeing 747 to meet the timing with all the supply chain constraints that are plaguing everybody at the moment.

This is just the start of the installation of the line with still half of the equipment missing. But I couldn’t wait to share this important milestone for us

I would like to thank our Manufacturing Engineering Team specifically for working their behinds off to make this happen – and of course, everybody else involved (Project Management, R&D, Purchasing, Quality… and of course, our suppliers and partners). Let’s get this done! And then, there are many more to come in Campus 1 and Campus 2...

 To follow the latest in the fast-moving Rimac story, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

August 12, 2022 - Formula 1 Legend Nico Legend takes to YouTube to post his experience of the first drive of his new Rimac Nevera. 

Croatia may not sell many cars, but when it does...

As TCN reported last week in Formula 1 Legend Nico Rosberg Takes Delivery of First Rimac Nevera (VIDEO), Rosberg became the first official buyer on the much-vaunted Croatian hypercar, the Rimac Nevera. 

Rosberg is clearly delighted with his purchase, and yesterday he posted a new video on his YouTube channel, detailing the first journey of his new purchase: 

What a special day: First drive in my new 2,000HP Hypercar! The Rimac Nevera is a beast...fully electric, ridiculous acceleration, awesome design...racing the car feels insane! Subscribe to my channel: https://bit.ly/NicoRosbergYT

Stay tuned for a lot more content when the car arrives in Monaco. Let me know in the comments what you'd like to see?

In the driving scene was none other than Mate Rimac himself, in what must have been an incredibly satisfying moment for the Croatian entrepreneur, and the two were clearly enjoying each other's company as Rimac helped Rosberg become more acquainted with his new toy. 

It has been quite a summer for Rimac and Nevera so far. In addition to this very high-profile first customer, Rimac and his Nevera were also the first to cross the new Peljesac Bridge on July 26, as Rimac drove Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic over the Chinese-constructed bridge, which finally connected the two parts of Croatia into one contiguous unit.

I don't know who was more texcited about yesterday's drive, Nico Rosberg, or the man who started it all more than a decade ago, Mate Rimac.

The Rimac founder posted his delight at the latest milestone in the incredible Rimac story on Facebook. 

We look forward to updating you on Rosberg's experiences with the Rimac Nevera on the streets of Monaco.

You can follow the latest in the Rimac story in the dedicated TCN section. 

****

What is it like to live in Croatia? An expat for 20 years, you can follow my series, 20 Ways Croatia Changed Me in 20 Years, starting at the beginning - Business and Dalmatia.

Follow Paul Bradbury on LinkedIn.

Croatia, a Survival Kit for Foreigners will be out by Christmas. If you would like to reserve a copy, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject 20 Years Book

August 4, 2022 - Croatia does not produce many cars, but when it does... Mate Rimac announced that Formula 1 legend Nico Rosberg has taken delivery of the first Rimac Nevera.

Twelve years ago, a young Croatian called Mate Rimac was driving a car that would not have looked out of place in the hit British TV show, Only Fools and Horses. But in contrast to Del and Rodney's attempts to achieve financial independence through a variety of get-rich-quick schemes, Rimac has been very focused on his project.

A project that has seen his company become Croatia's second unicorn, with investment from Porsche, Hyundai and more, including taking over the famous Bugatti brand.

(Photo by Igor Kralj PIXSELL)

The flagship product of the company is the fastest electric hypercar in the world, the Rimac Nevera, which last week became the first car to cross the new Peljesac Bridge connecting independent Croatia for the  first time - Mate Rimac was the driver, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic the passenger.

A week is a long time in the Nevera story, and Rimac posted earlier on his Facebook page to announce the delivery of the first Rimac Nevera to a customer - none other than Formula One ace, Nico Rosberg:

Nevera #001 delivered! We are so much looking forward to see it on the streets of Monaco. We can't wait to see 149 more roll off the production line!

Rosberg seems to be delighted with his purchase.  A lovely video on his YouTube channel. 

I am not sure of the exact retail price of the Rimac Nevera, but it the Croatian car industry could shift a few more, I am sure the man from Peckham would declare:

"Billions, Rodney."

Congratulations to all involved, a global example of Croatian excellence. 

To follow Mate Rimac's journey, follow the dedicated TCN section on the progress of the Rimac story.

July the 20th, 2022 - Croatian entrepreneur Mate Rimac has decided to invest in a company that couldn't possibly have less to do with cars if it tried - Gruntek. 

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the remarkably talented Croatian entrepreneur Mate Rimac, known for his dogged determination to succeed in a society which still doesn't provide much of a welcoming or transparent environment for entrepreneurship, joined the ''gardens of the future'' during the second year of existence of Gruntek, the largest producer of eco-vegetables.

Rimac's investment in the the Croatian-made Gruntek will provide it with a very welcome spring in its step and a chance for it to go after its big plans for the future, that is, to enter foreign marketd. This is also the first agro project in which the Croatian entrepreneur Mate Rimac has invested, and they have stated from Gruntek that they are honoured that its persistence and high quality have been recognised by someone of Rimac's status in the business world.

''We're now one step closer to realising some of our big plans for creating a greener and more sustainable future: Gruntek encourages the urban population to purchase organic vegetables directly from their producers, without the use of middle men or intermediaries; it's transparent, more favourable and goes without creating any waste from packaging and throwing away excess food from store-bought items, which is inevitable when it comes to purchasing from retail chains.

Gruntek has no such problems; given the fact that we don't use any plastic during the production process, nor do we use it in packaging and distribution. Our users are already used to the natural look and taste of our vegetables and don't have any plans whatsoever to return to buying them from mass production,'' Gruntek pointed out.

For more on Croatian entrepreneurs, inventions, startups and other companies, make sure to check out our dedicated business section.

June the 18th, 2022 - Croatian entrepreneur Mate Rimac has registered the first Nevera supercar. He took to Facebook to make the announcement and to reveal just what the letters and numbers on the vehicle's license plate mean.

Livno-born entrepreneur and inventor Mate Rimac has done more to place Croatia firmly on the map of innovation and not just tourism than anyone else in recent times. Dubbed the Balkan Elon Musk, Rimac shines a more modern light on the country of genius Nikola Tesla's birth, attracting investment from the likes of Porsche and becoming immortally associated with the gigantic Bugatti group.

His Nevera supercar was in the making for a full five years, and this doggedly determined self-proclaimed car lover who started up his remarkable business from his garage not so long ago has shown just what can be achieved even in a country which likes to bite the heels of would-be entrepreneurs at every step.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, businessman and creator Mate Rimac took to Facebook recently to post that the first Nevera supercar had officially been registered.

"After five years of development, over 1,000 people in the project, seventeen prototypes produced, 45 crash tests, nine cars destroyed during crash tests and thousands of other tests - today, the first Nevera has officially been registered. For now, in Croatia, and soon in many other countries. Here’s the license plate, it even has its stamp. It will be interesting to see them soon on the license plates of Monaco, UK, USA, Germany, Japan, Canada, etc,'' wrote Rimac.

He then revealed what the different letters and numbers on the stunning Nevera's license plates meant.

One of his Facebook followers asked him below his published photos of the newly registered Nevera if the letters NM on the table mean "Nevera Matina''. Rimac replied that it meant "2360 Newton metres'', to which multiple people said is truly an original thought.

For more, make sure to check out Made in Croatia.

June the 14th, 2022 - Mate Rimac's stunning Nevera supercar recently raced against a plane as part of a Varazdin-based event, but which of the two was quicker?

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the gorgeous Nevera supercar was driven by Miroslav Zrncevic, the main test driver of the Bugatti Rimac car, who explained that the maximum speed of the Nevera was 420 km per hour, and the maximum speed it achieved in this particular race against an aircraft was 350 km per hour.

As part of a three-day meeting of supercar owners held this weekend in Varazdin, Rimac's Nevera supercar faced off an acrobatic plane in a race - and this Croatian-made car won.

Three hundred visitors witnessed the unprecedented spectacle, a race between the Nevera supercar and an acrobatic plane, and despite the strong winds that disturbed both the driver of the Nevera and the pilot, the experienced helmsmen of their respective vehicles put on an amazing 20-minute show. In the battle in which both the Nevera supercar and the plane reached speeds above 350 km per hour, the final and convincing victory was won by entrepreneur Mate Rimac's car from Sveta Nedelja near Zagreb.

"We made two attempts at it, during the first attempt we were aligned to the goal where I started to go, and in the second attempt I basically let the plane go so that we could show spectators a little more about the difference in speed," said Zrncevic.

As Peter Podlunsek, an experienced Red Bull acrobatic pilot who flew the plane, pointed out, the race against the Nevera supercar was technically very demanding.

"First of all, flights when you fly upside down at 300 km plus per hour with strong winds blowing aren't so common, so there was a lot of turbulence to deal with,'' explained Podlunsek, who has been behind the wheel for several races, but this is his first against a hypercar.

The main organiser of the spectacle was Kresimir Mostarcic.

The spectacle was held as part of a three-day meeting in which Mostarcic brought expensive cars to Varazdin, so Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, Jaguars, Porsches, Maserattis drove through the streets of this continental Croatian city, and the highlight was the arrival of Rimac's Croatian-made Nevera.

"My vision is that even smaller cities can be the centres of top car events. I'm glad that this meeting was recognised by our friends and partners from many European countries, and the owners of these cars came from Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and Slovenia,'' said Mostarcic.

He noted that the mayor of Varazdin, Neven Bosilj, and the director of the city's Tourist Board, Jelena Toth, also both expressed a desire for this event to be repeated.

Mostarcic announced that similar events called FLY OVER by CleanFellas will be held in both Osijek and Pula.

For more, check out Made in Croatia.

June 8, 2022 - New York is the destination for two Croatian Unicorns and many other rising stars from Croatia for the 6th ACAP (Association of Croatian American Professionals) conference.

Looking to see the very best Croatian talent on display? New York is the place to be next week for the 6th ACAP conference, which kicks off on June 16, with a star-studded cast. 

How nice it is to open with the sentence - Two Croatian Unicorns will be among the keynote speakers at the event in New York. 

Both Mate Rimac, CEO of Rimac Bugatti, and Silvio Kutic, CEO of Infobip, will be among the speakers. Impressive as this is, what I find even more exciting is the sheer depth of talent of other participants. If you want to see a snapshot of the people driving real change in Croatia and beyond, this is the conference for you. 

The Association of Croatian American Professionals has done an excellent job in recent years bringing the 1.2 million Croatian American diaspora closer to the Homeland, with a particular emphasis on business and medical tourism. The annual conference is an excellent opportunity to showcase Croatian talent, as well as networking. You can see a full list of speakers here (as well as register).

Additional key speakers include Robert Herjavec of Shark Tank fame, Pete Radovich, Senior Creative Director, VP Production at CBS Sports, Emil Tedeschi, CEO of Atlantic Grupa, Dubravko Lakos Bujas, Chief Equity Strategist at JP Morgan, Marko Ratesic, COO of Americas Financial and Strategic Investors Group, Goldman Sachs, Jasmine Golubic, Senior Director Automotive Marketing, SiriusXM, Kreso Marusic, Managing Director of Bridgewater Associates, and Maja Vujinovc, Managing Director of OGroupLLC. 

The proposed program, which is subject to change, can be found below, but please check the link above for the latest information and schedule.

For more news and views from the Croatian diaspora, check out the dedicated TCN section.