FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Volkswagen Porsche participates in a financing round of Rimac Automobili, which will see the electric supercar manufacturer raise 130 million – 150 million euros (157 million – 181 million dollars), said its owner Mate Rimac weekly Automobilwoche .
Fundraising should be completed in two to three months and another round is planned for the end of the year, Rimac told the trade journal.
Porsche has a 15.5% stake in Rimac Automobili and could increase its stake to just under 50% in a deal that would also include the transfer of the Volkswagen Bugatti car brand to Rimac, Automobilwoche said.
Volkswagen and Rimac were not immediately available for comment on Sunday.
Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said earlier this month that intense discussions about the future of Bugatti are underway and that Rimac could play a role as the brands fit well technologically, adding that a decision was expected in the first half. of the year 2021.
Rimac has developed an electric supercar platform, which it supplies to other car manufacturers, including Pininfarina Automobiles.
“Supercars have a limited market, the component market is much larger. That’s why we plan to expand our company, “Rimac told Automobilwoche.
This includes plans to double the workforce of Rimac Automobili by early 2023 to 2,500 from 1,000 today, he said.
($ 1 = € 0.8282)
Reporting by Arno Schuetze; Mountainous of Susan Fenton