- Penske holds licence for DS entry, meaning Opel will be all-new Formula E team
- Formula E will have 12 teams for start of Gen4 era
- Remains unclear what Penske will do with current entry
Opel will enter Formula E from the start of the 2026/27 season as DS Automobiles exits in a realignment of Stellantis’ strategy in the all-electric series.
The team will be known as the Opel GSE Formula E team as the brand looks to promote its electric GSE models.
“We are delighted to welcome Opel as a new factory team in Formula E,” said Jeff Dodds, chief executive of Formula E.
“As a strong German brand with distinctive engineering expertise and a fresh, bold image, Opel brings a long and storied history in motorsport and a new dynamic to the starting grid. Opel’s commitment also shows the importance of Formula E for global car manufacturers in the transition to electric mobility.”
“Joining Formula E marks a new milestone for Opel on our journey towards an electric future,” said Opel chief executive Florian Huettl.
“With Formula E moving to Gen4 cars as of the coming season, we see this as the ideal time to join this exciting, all-electric racing competition.
“Our Opel GSE Formula E Team will show what our brand stands for: German engineering, bold design and electrified performance, attributes that also apply to Opel’s fully-electric GSE models such as the Mokka GSE and soon the new Corsa GSE.”
The move signals the end of DS Automobiles’ time in Formula E after 11 years. The brand will instead focus on SailGP.
“After 11 years of pioneering commitment to Formula E, 18 victories, two drivers’ and two manufacturers’ titles, DS Automobiles has demonstrated its ability to transform competition into a high-tech reality, illustrated by our latest DS N°4, DS N°7 and DS N°8 models,” said Xavier Peugeot, chief executive of DS Automobiles.
“To take French excellence even further, we are now taking a new step by orienting our partnership strategy towards SailGP, a unique laboratory of innovation where technological performance and emotion meet.”
Stellantis previously withdrew the Maserati brand from Formula E before the start of the current season, instead opting to run Citroën in the series.
The entry of Opel is not a straight swap of brands, however, as Penske Autosport holds the licence under which DS Automobiles raced. As a result, Opel will be an all-new team in Formula E.
With Porsche entering a second team next season, this brings the number of teams in the all-electric series to 12 for the start of the Gen4 era.
It is still unclear what form the Penske entry will now take – The Race reports that two options include creating its own technical package for the Gen4 era or becoming a Mahindra customer.
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