BMW’s i7 is now the starting point for a wider technical relationship with Rimac, not a one-off application.
Mate Rimac has confirmed that two more BMW vehicles are in the pipeline with jointly developed battery technology, though the specific models haven’t been disclosed.
It’s a notable move because the partnership places Rimac, best known for high-performance EV engineering, inside BMW’s broader electric future.
At a glance
- Mate Rimac has confirmed two more BMW vehicles are planned beyond the i7 under the companies’ battery partnership.
- The i7 is the first BMW to use a scalable system combining Gen6 4695 cylindrical cells with Gen5 module-based technology.
- Rimac manufactures the battery systems at its campus near Zagreb, Croatia, while future model applications remain unconfirmed.
A scalable battery architecture for BMW
The i7 is the first BMW to use the battery system developed through the collaboration.
The setup brings together BMW’s latest Gen6 4695 cylindrical cells with its earlier Gen5 module-based technology.
That combination matters because the resulting architecture is scalable, allowing it to be adapted for different vehicle types rather than being locked to a single flagship sedan.
Rimac produces the battery systems at its campus near Zagreb, Croatia, adding a manufacturing role to a partnership that goes beyond consulting or engineering support.
Two more BMW models are coming
Mate Rimac has said two additional BMW vehicles are planned to receive the jointly developed battery technology.
He hasn’t revealed which models will be next.
BMW’s upcoming Neue Klasse models could be candidates, but that remains unconfirmed.
For BMW, the significance lies in flexibility, since a scalable battery system could support different segments as the brand expands its electric lineup.
How Rimac won BMW’s confidence
Rimac also shared a telling detail about the early stages of the deal.
During a visit to the Rimac Campus, BMW executives were shown plans for a dedicated production line intended for the carmaker, even though no contract had been signed at the time.
Rimac told them, “I’m building it for you.”
That show of commitment, by his account, helped convince BMW to move forward.
Details & Specifications
| Partners | BMW and Rimac |
|---|---|
| First confirmed model | BMW i7 |
| Additional planned vehicles | Two BMW models confirmed by Mate Rimac |
| Battery cell type | BMW Gen6 4695 cylindrical cells |
| Architecture | Scalable system combining Gen6 cylindrical cells with Gen5 module-based technology |
| Manufacturing location | Rimac Campus near Zagreb, Croatia |
| Future model candidates | Neue Klasse models are possible but not confirmed |
The i7 may be the first visible result, but the more interesting story is the platform behind it.
If BMW extends this battery system across more models, Rimac’s role in the brand’s electric strategy will become much harder to view as a niche supplier relationship.
