Mercedes decides to enter Formula E by 2019, to quit DTM racing

Stuttgart based Mercedes Benz has announced its intentions to enter the FIA Formula E championship for the 2019/20 season. The German automaker had initially signed the agreement to join Formula E racing series during season 5 ie 2018-19 but has decided to delay its participation by a year to understand more about the racing before competing. Mercedes has also announced that it will quit participating in the DTM racing by end of 2018.

Mercedes’ announcement comes soon after the company had introduced its new electric sub-brand EQ. The EQ brand will have electric cars under its stable in the future. The Stuttgart based giant’s move to Formula E was expected, as the foray into electric car racing would help the company learn a lot more about electric powertrains and their future development.Formula E will make for the right backing in terms of marketing for its products, more so if it can recreate its leadership from Formula 1.

Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, said: “In motorsport, like in every other area, we want to be the benchmark in the premium segment and also explore innovative new projects. With Formula 1 and Formula E, we have achieved exactly this balance. Formula E is like an exciting start-up venture – it offers a brand new format, combining racing with a strong event character, in order to promote current and future technologies. Electrification is happening in the road car world and Formula E offers manufacturers an interesting platform to bring this technology to a new audience – and to do so with a completely new kind of racing, different to any other series.”

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Formula E, said: “Today is a great day as we welcome Mercedes to the Formula E family – adding to the increasing number of manufacturers joining the electric revolution. This shows how much the world is changing, not only in motorsport, but the whole automotive industry. We’re witnessing a transformation that will first change our cities, and then our roads. Formula E is the championship that embodies that change, and together with all our teams and manufacturers we’ll keep pushing for technologies, to have better and more affordable electric cars.”

As far as Mercedes’ exit from DTM racing is concerned, the automaker had been a regular member of DTM, participating in the racing since its inception in 1988. With Mercedes pulling out of it, the only remaining German brands still competing in it would be Audi and BMW.

[Source: NDTV Auto]