The German brand, part of the Stellantis group, has officially confirmed its entry into Formula E from the 2026–2027 season, for a four-year period. This announcement is not merely a return to competition, but reflects a broader commitment to accelerating its transition to electric vehicles, within a sporting context that is already deeply ingrained in Opel’s DNA.
Opel replaces the DS and enters the GEN4 era
The news is out: from Season 13 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Opel will be joining the fray and replacing DS Automobiles within the Stellantis line-up. The Blitz brand will compete with an official works team, named the Opel GSE Formula E Team.
This schedule coincides with the arrival of the new generation of electric single-seaters, the GEN4, which marks a technological breakthrough in the sport. Power output will increase from 350 kW (416 hp) to 600 kW (816 hp), with permanent all-wheel drive and regenerative braking capacity rising to 700 kW, compared with 600 kW today.
This news has delighted Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E: “We are delighted to welcome Opel as a new works team. Opel brings a rich history in motorsport, recognised technical expertise and a fresh energy to the grid. Its involvement confirms Formula E’s key role in the transition to electric mobility.”
Formula E, a global showcase for electric mobility
Since its inception in 2014 under the auspices of the FIA, Formula E has gradually established itself as the leading championship for fully electric single-seaters. Its format is based on street races, known as E-Prix, held in major international cities. For the 2025–2026 season, the calendar features 17 races across 10 countries. The aim is to combine motor racing with, above all, sustainable development.
Formula E has also established itself as a genuine technological testing ground. Manufacturers use it to test their electric solutions under extreme conditions, accelerate the development of their technologies and strengthen their reputation in the field of electromobility. Against this backdrop, Opel’s involvement appears to be a strategic choice, in line with developments in the sector.
A direct link to Opel’s electric strategy
Opel’s entry into Formula E is part of the transformation the brand has been undergoing for several years. Since joining Stellantis in 2021, the brand has significantly accelerated its shift towards electric vehicles, offering an electrified version of each of its models. The goal is now clear: to become a 100% electric brand in Europe by 2028.
In this context, motorsport becomes another tool for embodying this transition. As Florian Huettl, the brand’s CEO, explains: “Joining Formula E marks a new milestone for Opel in our transition towards an electric future. With the arrival of the GEN4 cars from next season onwards, this is the ideal time to join this 100% electric competition. Our Opel GSE Formula E Team will embody what our brand stands for: German engineering, bold design and electrified performance.”
You may not be familiar with the abbreviation GSE, but it stands for Grand Sport Electric – a designation already used on the highest-performance production models, such as the Opel Mokka GSE and, coming soon, the Corsa GSE.
Stellantis is overhauling its motorsport strategy
Opel’s entry into Formula E is also part of a wider reorganisation within the Stellantis group. Following the successive commitments by DS, then Maserati and, more recently, Citroën, the group is adjusting its motorsport strategy.
DS’s withdrawal at the end of the 2025–2026 season is therefore accompanied by a commitment to maintaining a strong presence in the sport, notably through Opel and Citroën, which recently announced that it was extending its involvement. The aim is to better align the motorsport programmes with the product strategies of the various brands, using competition as a direct tool for the development and promotion of production electric vehicles.
A return to the top level of motor racing
With this announcement, Opel is also marking its return to an FIA world championship, several decades after its involvement in rallying. However, the brand is not starting from scratch. It can draw on a wealth of experience in motorsport, as well as more recent initiatives, such as the launch in 2021 of the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup, the first all-electric one-make rally championship.
This technical and sporting foundation provides a strong basis for tackling Formula E, which is an extremely demanding and high-level discipline, both in terms of technology and competition.
A new milestone in the manufacturer’s electrification journey
By entering Formula E, Opel is positioning itself as a major player in electric mobility in Europe. In a rapidly evolving sector, racing is becoming an extension of standard production models, where part of the technological and industrial battle is now being fought.
It remains to be seen whether the brand with the lightning bolt logo will manage to compete on a par with the top teams in this competition right from the very first Grand Prix.
