Nissan confirms Formula E entry 25 | 10 | 2017
NISSAN HAS CONFIRMED it will become the first Japanese manufacturer to compete in the all-electric Formula E Championship. Nissan will enter from the 2018/19 season, replacing Renault. Both companies are part of the same group.
Nissan said the decision gave the car maker “a highly visible global platform from which to spread the message of Nissan Intelligent Mobility”.
Nissan is a major player in the electric vehicle industry, with its Leaf the best-selling EV in the world. Only last month it unveiled of the second-generation, five-door all-electric Leaf which is packed with ingenious technology that embraces the early steps of advanced driver assistance. (Related: 2018 Nissan Leaf to cost £26,490)
Since its launch in 2010, Nissan has sold more than 280,000 Leafs globally, with customers driving more than 3.5 billion zero-emission kilometres combined.
Related: Allan McNish leads Audi Formula E
“Nissan’s DNA is rich in innovation in electric mobility, not to mention a long history of success in motorsports,” Daniele Schillaci, executive vice president of global marketing and sales, zero-emission vehicles and battery business, and chairman of Nissan’s management committee for Japan, Asia and Oceania, said.
“It makes sense that we bring these two core elements together by competing in Formula E.
“As the ultimate expression of the thrill of instant acceleration and agile handling that’s at the heart of Nissan zero-emission driving, Nissan is going to electrify the Formula E championship.
“Nissan will be the first Japanese brand to enter this growing championship, bringing our long history of motorsports success to the Formula E grid. It will give us a global platform for bringing our pioneering Nissan Intelligent Mobility strategy to a new generation of racing fans.”
Nissan, which has been without a flagship international race programme since axing its failed LMP1 project at the end of 2015, will join a host of other global car manufacturers in the championship.
Related: McNish delighted with Audi Formula E test
Audi entered this season, and along wit Nissan, BMW will join as a fully fledged manufacturer in 2018/19. Mercedes and Porsche will follow one season later.
Understandably, Formula E founder and CEO, Alejandro Agag, was delighted with today’s announcement, hailing it "a momentous day for the series".
“To have a name like Nissan coming on board is a momentous day for the series,” he said. “Not only is it great to welcome a new manufacturer to the Formula E family – it’s great to see our first Japanese manufacturer entering the frame.
“This shows truly how global the electric revolution is. Japan is a country at the forefront of new technologies, with one of the biggest followings of Formula E. The shift toward sustainable mobility is in motion, and it’s unstoppable.”
Related: Porsche quits LMP1 for Formula E
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Jim McGill