DS Automobiles is leaving Formula E at the end of Season 12

DS Automobiles has confirmed it will not continue in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship once Season 12 concludes. With four championships, 18 victories, and 55 podiums accumulated over 142 races since 2015, the Stellantis group brand is closing one of the most successful programs in the history of electric single-seaters to redirect its sporting investment towards sailing with SailGP Team France.

Photo By Formula E

The current competitive moment of DS Penske, the identity under which DS Automobiles participates in Formula E, is far from those glory years. The team occupies ninth place in the constructors' standings with just 22 points, 91 behind Porsche and well below Jaguar (86), Mahindra (74), and Citroën Racing (58).

The distance to the lead carries more weight considering that DS was the first premium brand to join the Formula E grid in Season 2 and that during 2019 and 2020, under the DS Techeetah banner, it swept the drivers' titles with Jean-Éric Vergne and António Félix da Costa, in addition to two teams' championships. No other manufacturer had achieved that consecutive double in the category.

142 races of electric development

DS Performance went through three generations of electric powertrains in Formula E, and each technological leap was reflected in the 26 poles the operation accumulated. That sustained investment in energy management and software efficiency is precisely what DS Automobiles claims to have transferred to its road models, although it's difficult to precisely measure how much on-track development actually ended up inside a DS N°8 with 750 kilometers of range. What is verifiable is that no other premium manufacturer maintained a Formula E program for as long or with such continuity in its engineering.

Photo By Formula E

SailGP Team France and the bet on sailing

The new sporting chapter for DS Automobiles was outlined on January 15, 2026, when a long-term partnership with SailGP Team France was announced. High-performance sailing, according to DS, offers research avenues applicable to automotive development in aerodynamics, drag reduction, work with composite materials, and software development. The brand also mentioned golf as part of its sporting reorientation, although without offering specific details on that line.

"To take French Excellence even further, we are taking a new step by directing our collaboration towards SailGP, a unique innovation laboratory where technological performance and excitement meet," said Xavier Peugeot, CEO of DS Automobiles.

What's next for the Formula E grid?

The departure of DS Automobiles leaves Formula E without one of the manufacturers present almost since the category's birth. The championship, however, has advanced that it is preparing a major announcement for the coming days, which could indicate the arrival of a new constructor. With Porsche, Jaguar, Mahindra, Citroën, Nissan, Andretti, Envision, Cupra Kiro, and Lola Yamaha Abt still on the grid, the series retains a broad base of manufacturers for Season 13.

DS Penske still has half a season to close out its time in Formula E. This weekend, the team will be at the Circuito del Jarama for the Madrid E-Prix, the sixth round of the calendar and the first time the Spanish capital hosts a championship race. Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday, March 21st at 10:40 AM local time, and the race will start at 3:05 PM.