Nissan has finalised an acquisition of the e.dams race team, taking full ownership of its involvement in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
The Japanese OEM’s participation in the sport highlights its commitment to electrification and sustainability laid out in Nissan’s Ambition 2030 plan, whilst the acquisition has been described as a ‘natural step’ to take full control of its Formula E project.
The team is currently based in Le Mans, France, and will continue to race as planned in the eighth season.
Tommaso Volpe, General Manager Nissan Formula E, commented: “I am delighted that Nissan is taking over e.dams and today we are thinking of Jean-Paul Driot who, together with Nissan, had the vision for the team and helped to develop our partnership.
“Since his passing in 2019, Olivier and Grégory Driot took over and made sure the legacy of their father’s success would continue. It has been a pleasure working together and I would like to thank them for their commitment and support.
The change in ownership and new management structure is set to take place with immediate effect. Tommaso Volpe, General Manager Nissan Formula E, will also become Managing Director at e.dams.
Volpe continued: “This is an important step in our Formula E project. As the pinnacle of all-electric racing, Formula E gives us an engaging global platform from which we can show customers that EVs are not only fun and thrilling, but also that Nissan continues to be at the cutting edge of EV technology.
“We were happy to enter the sport in 2018 in partnership with e.dams. We have had a strong and successful collaboration, and we have learnt a great deal from their long-term experience in the series.
“We have a fantastic team in place, and we are looking forward to building on our success and experience together as a team, and to beginning this new chapter in our Formula E involvement.”
Nissan initially entered the series in 2018 in partnership with e.dams, with both companies racing together in the all-electric championship as the Nissan e.dams Formula E team.
In March 2021, the automaker announced its commitment to the Formula E Gen3 era, which will run from Season 9 (2022/23) through to the end of Season 12 (2025/26) of the series.
Ashwani Gupta, Nissan Chief Operating Officer, concluded: “These are exciting times for all of us at Nissan, our fans and customers everywhere. We have been on the grid for over 85 years, and our desire to win continuously accelerates us forward.
“We learn as we race, and the relentless pace of technological progression that drives the Formula E championship will provide us with many opportunities to inform and develop even better cars for customers.
“The acquisition of the e.dams team not only reconfirms our long-term commitment to Formula E, but also to the exciting, high-performance world of motorsports competition as a whole. But we don’t only love to compete.
“We’re also passionate about delivering innovative and exciting driving experiences while demonstrating our commitment to zero emission and sustainable solutions. This acquisition will further empower us in the strategic electrification objectives of our business.”
