--- title: "A Big-Time Auto Exec Allegedly Totaled a Rimac Nevera. So Who Was It?" description: "Mate Rimac says that a Nevera was crashed on track when a major automotive exec tried drifting the first corner." date: "2022-08-16" modified: "2022-08-16" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/a-big-time-auto-exec-allegedly-totaled-a-rimac-nevera-so-who-was-it" categories: - "Culture" - "News" --- # A Big-Time Auto Exec Allegedly Totaled a Rimac Nevera. So Who Was It? ![]() *\Rimac\* Former F1 world champion [Nico Rosberg]() just took delivery of his 1,914-horsepower [Rimac Nevera](). In the driver-turned-influencer's YouTube video showcasing the shiny new engineering marvel, he cruised around with Mate Rimac, the man whose name is on the badge. During the drive, the hypercar mastermind let slip a juicy piece of gossip: An executive from "one of the biggest car companies in the world" binned a Nevera on track. So who was it? Rosberg was toying with Rimac a bit, pretending like he was fully sending the car into a drift while using a highway on-ramp. It must have worked as an unintentional interrogation tactic because once Rimac realized it was a joke and calmed down, he gave his recollection of the crash. ![]() *Nico Rosberg via YouTube* According to him, "A CTO of one big, big car company—one of the biggest car companies in the world" wanted to drift the Nevera through the first corner of their first track drive. Rimac and his team tried to warn them that they might want to ease into the car's power before testing its drift mode but they apparently weren't having any of that. "He goes into a drift, first corner. He loses the car, goes into poles, and takes three poles out," Rimac said. Fortunately for the unnamed CTO, they were uninjured. Unfortunately for them, the battery was punctured by the third pole. It amazingly didn't start a fire, but the Nevera was totaled. ![]() Rosberg joked afterward that the crash was probably a good thing, as it would have made the CTO more inclined to give Rimac money for whatever project they were discussing. However, Rimac—through a bitter smile—said, "No, these guys don't feel sorry." *The Drive* reached out to Rimac about the incident but the company declined to comment. The knee-jerk reaction is to assume it was a Volkswagen Group executive, as Rimac is now a joint company with [Bugatti](). It's also partnered with Porsche under the VW umbrella. However, judging by Rimac's comment about executives not feeling sorry, I'm inclined to think whatever deal he was trying to make fell through after the crash. It would take some digging to find out whose confidence overwhelmed their driving skills in the Nevera. Clearly, Rimac isn't about to let it slip and you don't see a well-paid auto executive busting down the door to claim their snafu. Either way, you have to feel for the guy as this means not one but two of Rimac's hypercars have been [crashed by someone else](). https://youtu.be/aN64wMLyCuY?t=413 *Got a tip about the Nevera incident? Email me directly: nico.demattia@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()