Nissan has become the first automaker to pledge its commitment to the Gen4 Formula E regulations, a move that is expected to set the stage for other manufacturers to follow suit and secure their positions on the grid in 2026. This announcement, made ahead of Nissan’s inaugural home E-Prix in Tokyo, is seen as a crucial moment by key figures in the championship. Nissan will be competing in its third consecutive ruleset, having taken over Renault’s grid slot at the start of the Gen2 era in 2018. Despite modest success in the past, the company has recently received increased investment in its Formula E project, enabling it to make fresh technical hires and establish a new headquarters in Paris.
Like many other manufacturers, Nissan has a long-term electrification program, known as Ambition 2030, which places a strong emphasis on the integration of electric vehicles into its strategy. As part of this program, Nissan plans to introduce 34 electrified models between fiscal year 2024 and 2030, covering all vehicle segments. By fiscal year 2026, it aims for electrified vehicles to account for 40% of its global model mix, with a further increase to 60% by the end of the decade. The company believes that its participation in the Formula E series will contribute significantly to achieving these electrification goals and provide valuable insights for the development of future products.
Several other existing manufacturers, including Jaguar, Porsche, Mahindra, Stellantis, and ERT, are also in the process of making decisions regarding their involvement in the Gen4 regulations. The CEO of Nissan Motor Corporation, Makoto Uchida, expressed his excitement about the company’s decision, highlighting the potential for technological breakthroughs on the track to inform the development of their upcoming products and contribute to a sustainable future.
The Gen4 regulations will bring about the most significant increase in performance for Formula E, with cars featuring all-wheel drive and a power output of 600kW. This represents a substantial jump from the approximately 469bhp of the Gen3 era. Additionally, the Gen4 cars will feature two distinct aero kits and new tires supplied by Bridgestone, the new technical partner for the 2026 season.
Not too long ago, Formula E faced significant technical and operational challenges. The Gen3 car encountered numerous issues, such as non-functioning parts and a flawed marketing campaign that resulted in drivers crashing into barriers during testing. It was evident that changes needed to be made, and the teams and manufacturers were keenly aware of the need for improvement. With the Gen4 era approaching, Formula E extended the timeline for registration and tendering procedures, allowing for more extensive testing and development of the new hardware.
One of the major hurdles during the development of the Gen4 regulations was the negotiation of Non-Recoverable Engineering (NRE) costs between the promoters and manufacturers. This deal was crucial to securing commitments from manufacturers, and Nissan’s decision to be the first to commit suggests that the financial model for Gen4 has been largely resolved. Currently, teams face significant financial commitments in terms of NRE cost contributions, which include the intellectual property of the cars. Therefore, board decisions had to take into account the financial management of their programs.
Nissan’s team principal, Tommaso Volpe, expressed his enthusiasm for continuing to develop and compete in Formula E until at least the end of Season 16 in 2030. He acknowledged Formula E as an exceptional testing ground for new electric technology and thanked Formula E Operations and the FIA for their support. This commitment from Nissan, along with the involvement of Lola-Yamaha and other potential manufacturers like Hyundai and BYD, further solidifies Formula E’s position as a leading platform for electric racing.