Bethonie WaringJapanese manufacturer Nissan has acquired full ownership of the e.dams Formula E team.
The announcement comes two months after former Formula E driver Charles Pic took control of the DAMS Formula 2 squad.
Nissan joined Formula E in partnership with Jean-Paul Driot’s e.dams squad in 2018, taking over from sister brand Renault.
Now the manufacturer will have full control of the project, with immediate effect.
“We are very proud to hand over the e.dams team to such a committed and innovative company as Nissan,” said Gregory and Olivier Driot, who took over control over the team after the passing of their father.
“We’ve had several open discussions in recent months with Nissan and we decided it was the right time for them to take the reins and continue the legacy of our family and secure the long-term future of the employees.
“Since the passing of our father, it’s been an honour for us to partner with a global brand such as Nissan in Formula E and we are proud of what we have achieved together. We would like to thank all the e.dams staff for their hard work and commitment over the years and we wish Nissan all the very best for the remainder of Season 8 and beyond.”
Nissan is one of seven manufacturers that have confirmed their spot on the grid for Gen3, which begins next year.
The manufacturer sees the championship as an important part in its road vehicle development.
“I am delighted that Nissan is taking over e.dams and today we are thinking of Jean-Paul Driot who, together with Nissan, had the vision for the team and helped to develop our partnership,” said Nissan Formula E general manager Tommaso Volpe. “Since his passing in 2019, Olivier and Gregory Driot took over and made sure the legacy of their father’s success would continue. It has been a pleasure working together and I would like to thank them for their commitment and support.
“This is an important step in our Formula E project. As the pinnacle of all-electric racing, Formula E gives us an engaging global platform from which we can show customers that EVs are not only fun and thrilling, but also that Nissan continues to be at the cutting edge of EV technology. We were happy to enter the sport in 2018 in partnership with e.dams. We have had a strong and successful collaboration, and we have learnt a great deal from their long-term experience in the series. We have a fantastic team in place, and we are looking forward to building on our success and experience together as a team, and to beginning this new chapter in our Formula E involvement.”
Nissan chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta added: “The acquisition of the e.dams team not only reconfirms our long-term commitment to Formula E, but also to the exciting, high performance world of motorsports competition as a whole. But we don’t only love to compete. We’re also passionate about delivering innovative and exciting driving experiences while demonstrating our commitment to zero emission and sustainable solutions. This acquisition will further empower us in the strategic electrification objectives of our business.”
