Breaking news
Formula E
Formula E can be “important platform” for US manufacturers
Formula E can be an “important platform” for major American car manufacturers to showcase their “almost unthinkable” decision to move to an all-electric road car line-up.
Matt Kew
Edited: Mar 21, 2021, 2:40 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Last month, Jaguar announced plans to become an electric-only brand by 2025, five years ahead the UK government’s ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.
This boosts the likelihood of Jaguar remaining in Formula E by committing to the Gen3 regulations in time for the 31 March manufacturer registration deadline.
Bentley will also adopt a fully electric range by 2030 and is known to be evaluating a Formula E programme that would place it alongside fellow Volkswagen Group member Porsche on the grid during the Gen3 era starting in 2022-23.
Major American manufacturers Ford and General Motors have also launched similar plans to consolidate around EVs and a “zero-emissions future”.
Formula E chief executive officer Jamie Reigle told Motorsport.com that these marques entering the championship will enable them to “showcase that shift” and "meet their deadlines".
He said: “Jaguar have made a pretty material announcement in terms of their commitment to shift the brand to be fully electric by 2025. Does that guarantee that they'll continue in Formula E? It doesn't.
“Does it mean that we believe the championship would be a great platform for them to showcase that shift and to meet that deadline? Absolutely.
“The one that really surprised me was General Motors. When you look at the types of cars they sell, it's more trucks.
“For them to come out and say by 2035 they're going to shift to effectively a fully electric fleet… these are big signals.
“When I see those announcements, these were almost unthinkable two years ago. I feel really good about where [Formula E] is as a consequence.”
Read Also:
- Formula E's Gen3 rules will provide "step change"
- Formula E drivers react to "lottery" 2021 tyre rules
GM will have exposure in the inaugural season of Extreme E, of which Formula E is a shareholder, through its partnership with the Chip Ganassi team.
It will run with an Odyssey 21 E-SUV with bodywork customised to resemble the forthcoming all-electric Hummer.
Reigle added: “There's a reason that Ford have come out and said they're going to shift to electric in Europe by 2030. There's a reason GM have done that in the United States.
“It's not because they suddenly woke up and said, 'I really care about the environment and that's my primary motivation'.
“It's because they look at the imperative for their business, and they look at the next 20-30 years of how people are going to be getting around.
“The reality is people are going to be buying a lot more electric cars. That sounds obvious, but that wasn't the consensus even 18 months ago. The manufacturers recognise that.
“We have some [in Formula E] who are very visionary in that have been committed already.
“There are others who haven't started to make that shift, but we can be really important platform [for them].”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Formula E's Gen3 rules will provide "step change"
Next article Dutch government ministers back Eindhoven Formula E bid
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Matt Kew
Marko suggests Perez's improved F1 form because 2025 contract at stake
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Marko suggests Perez's improved F1 form because 2025 contract at stake
Russell explains how low-fuel runs expose Mercedes F1 inconsistency
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Russell explains how low-fuel runs expose Mercedes F1 inconsistency
Leclerc: No answer for "once in a season" Japan F1 qualifying struggle
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Leclerc: No answer for "once in a season" Japan F1 qualifying struggle
Latest news
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
56 min
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
1 h
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 1 h
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
Daniel Suarez will return to Spire Motorsports for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
1 h
Daniel Suarez will return to Spire Motorsports for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe