It has been confirmed that Rimac will supply batteries for BMW’s next generation of electric cars.
The engineering department of Croatian electric vehicle specialist Rimac Technology has signed a supply contract with BMW, which represents “the largest and most ambitious project the company has undertaken to date”.
No financial terms of the deal were disclosed and neither company has provided details on the quantities in which Rimac will supply batteries.
However, Rimac said the deal required the company to equip its battery factory with new “sophisticated automated production lines.”
“A significant portion” of the Rimac Campus near Zagreb will be dedicated to the development and delivery of BMW’s new battery packs, underlining “the company’s commitment” to its partnership with BMW.
The two companies have promised to announce further details of the collaboration “at a later date.”
Mate Rimac, Founder and CEO of Rimac, said: “My business journey started with a 1984 BMW 3 Series, which I converted into an electric car in my garage when I was 20 years old. Therefore, it is a perfect piece of symmetry to work with the BMW Group today.”
“This marks a pivotal moment in Rimac Technology’s growth, from humble beginnings to a major long-term partnership with one of the largest automotive brands in the world.”
“This is a clear sign of Rimac Technology’s transformation from niche high-performance supplier to high-volume production capability.”
“Thanks to the continuous growth of our company, including the opening of the Rimac Campus, we are now ready to realize major projects for the leading brands in the automotive industry.”
It remains unclear what impact the new agreement will have on BMW’s existing battery supply framework.
BMW currently sources batteries for electric vehicles from five global locations and is building new locations for its next-generation batteries in China, Hungary, Mexico and the USA. Another new factory for assembling batteries for BMW electric vehicles is being built in Munich, Dingolfing and Regensburg in Germany.
BMW has already confirmed preliminary technical details of its next-generation batteries, which will be installed in the Neue Klasse electric vehicles from 2025 and have been described as unique to BMW.
By using cylindrical cells instead of today’s prismatic arrangement, the new batteries are expected to offer 30% more range than today’s electric vehicles while increasing charging speed and reducing weight.
It is unclear whether Rimac has been hired to refine the chemistry and production process for these new batteries or whether BMW plans to use multiple battery types.