Opel has confirmed its entry into the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with a factory team named Opel GSE Formula E Team. The agreement, announced at Circuito del Jarama ahead of the Madrid E-Prix, covers four seasons starting from the 2026/27 cycle and begins with the introduction of the GEN4 cars, the most powerful generation in the history of the electric series. Florian Huettl, CEO of Opel, and Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E, formalized the news in a joint press conference at the Spanish circuit.

Stellantis changes uniform

DS Automobiles, also part of Stellantis, announced its exit from the category at the conclusion of Season 12 just one day before Opel confirmed its entry, with a record of four titles, 18 victories, and 55 podium finishes in 142 races since 2015. Opel itself acknowledged that its new team "benefits from Stellantis Motorsport's extensive experience in the development of the GEN4 model," confirming a direct transfer of resources and knowledge within the group.

Where DS redirects its sporting investment towards sailing with SailGP Team France, Opel picks up Stellantis' presence on the grid. The operation keeps the consortium in Formula E without interruption.

Photo By Stellantis

The GEN4 and the entry point

The fourth-generation cars represent the biggest technical change in the history of Formula E. Maximum power increases to 600 kW (816 hp) in qualifying and attack mode, a 250 kW increase over the GEN3. All-wheel drive goes from temporary to permanent, and energy recovery capacity grows to 700 kW, improving efficiency and race range.

For Opel, a regulation change of this magnitude is the best possible entry point. All teams start with a new technical foundation, and the accumulated advantage of manufacturers that have been in the category for years is diluted when the car changes completely. It is the same logic that attracted several manufacturers when GEN2 and GEN3 were introduced.

Electric rally as a precedent

Opel does not arrive without electric racing experience. In 2021 it launched the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup, the world's first one-make electric rally cup, a program that has been active for five seasons and served as a laboratory for the development of emission-free powertrains.

Photo By Stellantis

Thirty years away from the elite

The last time Opel competed at the highest level of motorsport was in the DTM, where Manuel Reuter won the 1996 championship with the Calibra V6 4x4 against Mercedes and Alfa Romeo. Before that, Walter Röhrl had given the Rüsselsheim-based manufacturer its greatest sporting glory with the WRC drivers' world title in 1982 in the Ascona 400. When Opel left the DTM in the early 2000s, the brand's motorsport operation was reduced to promotional categories and one-make cups. In that sense, Formula E will mark Opel's return to an FIA world championship, three decades later.

The grid ahead

With Opel in and DS on its way out, Formula E retains a grid of 11 manufacturers for Season 13, including Porsche, Jaguar, Mahindra, Citroën Racing, Nissan, Andretti, Envision, Cupra Kiro, and Lola Yamaha Abt. The team's first public appearance will be during the official GEN4 launch at the Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet, scheduled for April.