Porsche AG has agreed to sell its entire 45% stake in Bugatti Rimac, fully exiting the joint venture it established with Croatian sports-car maker Rimac Group in 2021. The stake will be acquired by a consortium led by New York-based venture capital firm HOF Capital, with BlueFive Capital as the largest investor. In addition to divesting from Bugatti Rimac, Porsche will also sell its 20.6% stake in Rimac Group, marking a complete exit from its investment in the Croatian electric hypercar manufacturer. Following the completion of this transaction, Rimac Group will assume full operational control of Bugatti Rimac and form a strategic partnership with BlueFive and HOF Capital to support the brand's future growth [1].
The deal occurs amid mounting industry pressures, including slowing growth, rising costs, and increased margin pressure from tariffs and geopolitical disruptions. According to Bain & Company, automotive and mobility deal value rebounded last year, reaching more than $35 billion by the third quarter [1]. Financial terms of the Porsche stake sale were not disclosed. In early trading on the Frankfurt exchange, shares of Porsche fell 1.6% following the announcement [1].
Michael Leiters, CEO of Porsche AG, stated, "As an early-stage investor of Rimac Group, Porsche made a significant contribution to developing Rimac Technology into an established Tier-1 automotive technology company. With the sale of our stake, we are focusing Porsche on the core business." Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti Rimac, commented, "With the strong foundations [Porsche's] support has provided, we now have a structure that allows us to execute even faster on our long-term vision" [1].
Previously, Rimac founder Mate Rimac had expressed interest in acquiring Porsche's stake, making a preliminary offer that valued the joint venture at slightly over €1 billion ($1.1 billion), according to Bloomberg sources cited in the article. Hazem Ben-Gacem, Founder and Chief Executive of BlueFive Capital, emphasized the consortium's commitment to Bugatti Rimac's legacy, stating, "BlueFive Capital approaches this opportunity as more than simply a financial transaction, and we look forward to working alongside the entire Bugatti Rimac team to honor that legacy for generations to come" [1].
CONCLUSION
Porsche's exit from Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Group marks a strategic shift to refocus on its core business, while Rimac Group and its new partners aim to accelerate the brand's growth. The market reacted negatively, with Porsche shares dropping 1.6% after the announcement. The transaction underscores ongoing consolidation in the automotive sector amid challenging industry conditions.