BMW will enter the Formula E racing series next year, with a new powertrain and transmission system from the automaker.
The automaker has announced that it will join the Formula E racing series in time for the 2018/19 season, using a car with a new engine developed by itself. The entry of the BMW works will be led by the existing Andretti team.
Its involvement in the EV racing series will help influence its road cars in the future, BMW says.
“Through our participation in Formula E, we are addressing the development towards emission-free and sustainable mobility in the automotive industry and are also making a contribution to the progression of the brand to BMW iNEXT,” said Klaus Fröhlich, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development.
“The boundaries between production and motor racing development are more blurred in BMW i Motorsport than in any other project. The result is technology transfer on a whole new level. We are confident that the BMW group will greatly benefit from the experience gained in the field of electrical engineering during this project.”
BMW joins leading manufacturers Renault, DS and Jaguar in the electric series, as well as rival brand Audi, which will become a full works team early in the 2017/18 season.
BMW is already involved in the sport to some extent, as both safety vehicle and medical vehicle tasks are performed by a BMW i8 and i3 today.
He has also assisted the Andretti Formula E team since early 2016, but has only now confirmed his intention to take part in a full racing capacity, having hinted at doing so late last year.