Nissan will continue competing in the Formula E Championship until 2030, the automaker announced last week.
Nissan has competed in the electric racing series since Season 5, which ran in 2018 and 2019, and under its latest commitment will compete in the series until at least the end of Season 16, which will run in 2029 and 2030. This will be the longest time that Nissan competed in an FIA-sanctioned race series.
The commitment makes Nissan the first team to sign the contract to race the next-generation Gen4 race car, which will be introduced in Season 13, which will run in 2026 and 2027. Nissan is helping to develop the car. Porsche is also involved in development, although the carmaker did not commit to Formula E after the 12th season.
The Gen4 race car, like its predecessors, will be common to all teams, although some aspects will be open to individual adjustments, especially with regards to the powertrain.
Nissan at the 2024 Formula E Diriyah E-Prix
According to organizers, the car will provide more power and faster charging capacity than the current Gen3 car. Improving security will be another key aspect. Performance targets include an output of 804 hp and regeneration capacity of up to 938 hp.
For Nissan and other competitors in the sport, Formula E offers an opportunity to develop electric vehicle technology and test it in one of the toughest environments possible. Speaking to Motor Authority during the 2024 New York auto show last week, Ponz Pandikuthira, senior vice president and director of planning for Nissan North America, said participation in Formula E is being used as a test bench for developing the powertrain of the next-generation GT-R, although he said Nissan has not yet decided what type of powertrain the car will have.
News of Nissan’s latest commitment to Formula E comes at the same time as news of the revival of iconic race car manufacturer Lola Cars as a new entry into Formula E. Lola will join with Yamaha in time for the 11th season of Formula E, which starts at the end of this year and runs until 2025.