Mate Rimac predicts internal combustion engines will persist in the supercar market

Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti Rimac, predicts a bifurcated automotive market where high-end supercars will continue to rely on internal combustion engines for the foreseeable future. While mass-market vehicles transition to electric power, Rimac argues that the luxury segment will mirror the Swiss watch industry: while smartwatches are functional and widespread, wealthy collectors will continue to prize the craftsmanship, emotion, and sound of traditional mechanical movements.

Rimac noted that in the hypercar segment, raw performance is becoming secondary as affordable electric vehicles can now match the acceleration of older high-performance models. Instead, luxury buyers prioritize identity, artistry, and customization. This vision is reflected in Bugatti’s upcoming Tourbillon, which features an 8.3-liter V16 naturally aspirated hybrid powertrain. All 250 planned units of the Tourbillon have already been sold, with prices starting between 4.1 and 4.5 million dollars.

Rimac’s leadership spans both the all-electric Rimac Automobili and the historic Bugatti brand, a combination that allows him to manage both cutting-edge EV technology and traditional combustion engineering within the same production ecosystem.