Robert Irlinger, Former BMW Top Executive, Joins Bugatti Rimac

Bugatti Rimac has appointed Robert Irlinger as Vehicle Line Director. He will report directly to Mate Rimac and be responsible for overseeing the development of upcoming and future Bugatti and Rimac models.

Irlinger joins from BMW, where he was Chief Engineer on the next-generation modular electrified ‘Neue Klasse’ project. He will officially join the company on October 1.

Bringing 25 of experience within the BMW Group alone, his most recent roles include Senior Vice President of the electric BMW i range of cars from 2017 to 2020 including the BMW i3, i8, and BMW iX. His insights into advanced vehicle concepts, complex integrations of innovative powertrains and electronics, and the revolutionary use of carbon fiber are the perfect background for his future role at Bugatti Rimac.

From 2020 on, Irlinger's work on the Neue Klasse project has focused on the development of a fully new modular EV architecture that will underpin all electric BMWs from 2025. It’s a ground-up approach to vehicle development, focusing on electrification, digitalization, and circularity.

“Very few people have been working with EVs at the highest level for as long as Robert has. He has helped to develop and launch several pioneering electrified cars for one of the biggest automotive brands in the world and was entrusted with overseeing the architecture that would underpin every one of their cars from 2025 - a huge responsibility for a very talented engineer. Robert brings to Bugatti Rimac this visionary approach, an incredible eye for detail, and a wealth of experience that will help to steer our incomparable line-up of next-generation models,“ said Mate Rimac, CEO and founder of Rimac Group.

“Mate’s work has been on my radar for a long time, stretching right back to his Concept_One in 2011. As my career has focused on cutting-edge electrified vehicles I’ve been amazed by the speed and ingenuity of Mate’s business. Now, with his role overseeing both Bugatti and Rimac Automobili brands, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help to set new benchmarks for full EV performance cars and to steer an entirely new plug-in hybrid direction for the most revered automotive manufacturer in the world,“ Irlinger said.