BMW Joins Formula E Ahead of Its Main German Rival
Formula E has announced the nine manufacturers homologated for season 5.
Among the list is BMW, which confirmed it has formally registered as a Formula E manufacturer with the FIA accepting the registration. The German automaker had previously formed a close partnership with the MS Amlin Andretti team at the start of the current season and the cooperation includes working together at the engineering level and sharing resources.
BMW has been supplying i3 and i8 support cars to the series and appeared to be considering an entry for some time now.
SEE ALSO: Mercedes-Benz Could be Racing in Formula E in 2018
BMW joins ABT Formel E, DS Automobiles, Jaguar Land Rover, Mahindra Racing, NextEV NIO, Penske Autosport, Renault and Venturi Automobiles in Formula E. Noticeably missing is Mercedes-Benz, which could still exercise its reserved spot for the fifth season, but it would likely have to source a powertrain from somewhere else until it could get its own program approved.
In Formula E, the chassis and battery packs will still be common to each team, but development of the powertrain opens up for the fifth season that starts in late 2018.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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