The Robotaxi Scandal: How Rimac’s Company Got €19.9 Million Before Project Approval!
In a world where millions of euros are spent on innovation and technology, one would expect transparency and legality. But not in Croatia! The Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, led by HDZ’s Oleg Butković, paid a whopping €19.9 million to Project 3 Mobility, owned by Mate Rimac, before the European Commission even approved the robotaxi project!
How is this possible?
The robotaxi project, aiming to develop a fully autonomous electric vehicle with level five autonomy, sounds like science fiction. But the real drama is that Rimac’s company received the money back in 2019, while the European Commission only approved the project in May 2021. To make matters worse, the Ministry declared the justification for this payment secret, refusing to disclose to the public on what basis the funds were allocated.
No prototypes, no refund
According to information published by Index, Project 3 Mobility did not work on the robotaxi project for two and a half years, and prototypes are still far from realization. Rimac even extended the deadline for prototype delivery to October 2023, as experts claim that level five autonomy won’t be available for at least the next ten years.
Transparency? Forget it!
The Ministry ignored legal deadlines for responding to information access requests, and after complaints, the case remained unanswered. Such behavior casts a serious shadow over the entire project and raises questions about possible abuses and lack of transparency in the allocation of public funds.
What does Rimac say?
Although Rimac is known as an innovator and successful entrepreneur, this case tarnishes his reputation. Is this just a misunderstanding or something much more serious? While we wait for answers, it’s clear this is one of the biggest scandals in Croatian tech industry.
Conclusion
While Rimac and his company promise a revolution in transport, Croatia faces questions about transparency and accountability in spending public money. Will anyone be held accountable for this mysterious payment? And what will happen to the project that hasn’t even started yet? Stay tuned, this is just the beginning of a big story.
So, what do you think about this scandal? Is Rimac a victim of bureaucracy or is this just the tip of the iceberg? Drop a comment, let the people’s voice be heard!
