Breaking: Formula E Gen4 signs up major new manufacturer

German brand Opel has announced it will join Formula E next season, when Gen4 will be introduced.

Officially known as the Opel GSE Formula E Team, it will be a full factory outfit committed to the all-electric series on a four-year contract, using Stellantis powertrains.

The announcement comes ahead of this weekend's inaugural Madrid E-Prix and a day after DS Automobiles confirmed it would leave the championship at the end of the season.

DS and Opel are both Stellantis-owned brands, but Opel's entry comes through an entirely new licence, taking Formula E to 12 teams and 24 cars for the 2026/27 campaign.

A push towards electric vehicles has taken place at Opel through GSE, its Grand Sport Electric sub-brand. Entering Formula E marks a "new milestone" in this electrification journey.

"Joining Formula E marks a new milestone for Opel on our journey towards an electric future," said Opel CEO 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."

Its team principal will be Jörg Schrott, who is also Director of Opel Motorsport. Work at Opel is already underway ahead of its arrival, with Schrott leading a team of vehicle, development and strategy engineers, along with operational management.

The move into Formula E follows five years after the creation of the Rüsselsheim-based manufacturer's ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup and represents its next step.

"We are delighted to welcome Opel as a new factory team in Formula E," said Jeff Dodds, Formula E CEO.

"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."