Opel confirms Formula E entry for Gen4 era as Stellantis strengthens electric racing push
Opel has confirmed it will enter the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship from Season 13 (2026/27), aligning its arrival with the start of the championship’s transformative GEN4 era.
The German manufacturer will compete under the banner of the ‘Opel GSE Formula E Team’, signalling a clear intent to position its high-performance electric GSE sub-brand at the forefront of global electric motorsport.
The announcement was made jointly by Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds and Opel CEO Florian Huettl (pictured) ahead of this weekend’s race in Spain, further reinforcing the championship’s growing appeal among major automotive manufacturers.
Opel’s decision to join Formula E at the beginning of the GEN4 cycle is highly deliberate. The next generation of Formula E machinery represents the most significant performance leap in the series’ history, with peak outputs of up to 600kW (816hp) in qualifying and ATTACK MODE, an increase of 250kW over current GEN3 Evo cars.
GEN4 will also introduce permanent all-wheel drive, delivering enhanced traction and unlocking new layers of performance strategy. For manufacturers, it represents a clean-sheet opportunity to develop and showcase cutting-edge electric powertrain technology.
“Joining Formula E marks a new milestone for Opel on our journey towards an electric future,” said Huettl. “With GEN4 arriving, this is the ideal moment to enter this exciting all-electric racing competition. Our Opel GSE Formula E Team will demonstrate what our brand stands for, German engineering, bold design and electrified performance.”
Opel’s arrival also deepens the presence of Stellantis within Formula E. The group is already represented through multiple brands and powertrain programmes, and Opel’s entry signals a long-term commitment to the championship’s next phase.
Jeff Dodds welcomed the move as a strong endorsement of Formula E’s trajectory. “We are delighted to welcome Opel as a new factory team,” he said. “It’s a brand with a rich motorsport heritage and strong engineering credentials, and its entry underlines the importance of Formula E in the global transition to electric mobility.”
For EV Powered readers, the significance is clear: Formula E is no longer simply a proving ground, it is becoming a central battleground for global OEMs shaping their electric futures.
Opel brings with it decades of motorsport pedigree. From World Rally Championship campaigns to success in touring cars and single-seater categories such as Formula 3 and the DTM, the brand has long used racing as a platform for engineering development and brand storytelling.
The Opel GSE Formula E Team will be led by motorsport director Jörg Schrott, with a dedicated engineering and operations structure already in place. Development work is underway ahead of the team’s competitive debut, with a clear emphasis on integrating race-derived learnings into future road-going GSE models.
These include performance-focused electric vehicles such as the Mokka GSE and the forthcoming all-electric Corsa GSE — cars that will increasingly draw on the same principles being refined on track.
Before its competitive debut, Opel will make its first public appearance as a Formula E entrant at the official GEN4 launch event at Circuit Paul Ricard in April.
That moment will mark the beginning of a new chapter not only for Opel, but for the championship itself. With more power, greater efficiency and an expanding roster of manufacturers, the GEN4 era is set to redefine the competitive and technological landscape of electric motorsport.
For Opel, the message is unambiguous: the future of performance is electric, and it intends to compete at the very sharp end.
