2017 is almost at an end, but there’s still time for yet another manufacturer to announce it’s joining Formula E. Step forward, Nissan.
The Japanese giant will be the first from the country to join the all-electric open-wheel series. It follows Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche in announcing factory support in Formula E. With Jaguar, Renault, DS, and Mahindra all already taken part in the series in various capacities, the newest FIA discipline will be chock-full of manufacturers from across the globe.
Nissan Chairman Daniele Schillaci had this to say during the announcement:
“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.”
The move mirrors those of Audi and Porsche, both of which abandoned LMP1 earlier this year. Nissan infamously entered the top-shelf prototype category a few years back with the unconventional GT-R LM, before shuttering the program mere months after Le Mans.
Nissan won’t take part in Formula E until late next year. The fourth season is set to kick off in December — Nissan is aiming to be on the grid for season five.
As the pinnacle of electric racing, Formula E should provide Nissan with plenty of visibility for its battery-powered cars. That includes the second-generation Leaf, the just-launched successor to the original, which sold over 280,000 examples throughout its life.
