Rimac teases hatch-like vehicle the company probably won’t sell

Rimac Group founder Mate Rimac took to social media on Thursday to put up a video that seemingly teases a brand new mannequin, particularly a hatchback-like automobile.

He included an announcement with the put up that one thing in growth at Rimac for the previous 5 years might be unveiled on June 26.

The video reveals the silhouette of the automobile juxtaposed with flickering photographs of city scenes, and with music within the background containing lyrics about “via the town’s veins” and “we experience from daybreak to midday.” The video additionally opens with a photograph of well-known futurist and visionary Jules Verne.

Although Rimac is greatest recognized for its high-performance electrical automobile expertise, together with the Nevera electrical hypercar and its Concept_One predecessor, the automobile within the teaser is unlikely to be a brand new scorching hatch within the vein of Rivian’s R3 and R3X fashions proven earlier in March.

Instagram put up by Mate Rimac made on March 21, 2024

The teaser extra probably alludes to a robotaxi that Rivian has beforehand confirmed for a debut in 2024.

Code-named Mission 3 Mobility, plans for the robotaxi had been first introduced in 2021. It’s being developed with some backing from Kia, which has a small stake in privately owned Rimac along with Hyundai.

Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, the place Rimac’s headquarters is situated, is anticipated to be the primary metropolis the place the robotaxis are launched. Rimac has beforehand hinted at a service being prepared by 2026. When asserting the undertaking three years in the past, Rimac stated it was additionally in negotiations with 20 further cities in Europe and the Center East to launch the service.

Although it is laborious to gauge, the angle of the automobile’s windshield, if there’s one, seems like it could have been impressed by the well-known Johnny Cab robotaxi depicted within the 1990 hit science fiction movie “Whole Recall.” Do not be shocked if Rimac has an avatar for a voice assistant that occupants in its robotaxis can work together with it, similar to the Johnny Cab.