Nissan has strengthened its partnership with e.dams by purchasing a stake in the championship-winning racing organization, ahead of Nissan鈥檚 debut in the ABB FIA Formula E electric street-racing championship.

Nissan is joining Formula E as the first Japanese carmaker to participate in the innovative series and as a leader in electric cars, with more than 350,000 Nissan LEAF vehicles sold. Nissan鈥檚 Formula E program will show a new 鈥減erformance side鈥� of Nissan Intelligent Mobility 鈥� the company鈥檚 vision for changing how cars are powered, driven and integrated into society.

Based in Le Mans, France, and co-founded by team principal Jean-Paul Driot, the e.dams organization emerged from DAMS, a leading contender in European open-wheel and sports car competition for more than 30 years. In its previous partnership with Nissan鈥檚 alliance partner Renault, e.dams won the team championship in the first three seasons of Formula E. It also holds records for most wins and pole positions.

鈥淔or Nissan鈥檚 first Formula E experience, it makes sense to partner with e.dams and be able to draw on the organization鈥檚 experience of winning races and championships,鈥� said Roel de Vries, Nissan corporate vice president and global head of marketing and brand strategy. 鈥淭he level of competition in Formula E will get even more intense for season five, with a series-mandated all-new car and powertrain. As part of our commitment to our partnership, Nissan has now purchased an ownership stake in the organization, and we鈥檙e excited to work with Jean-Paul and his team.鈥�

Driot said: 鈥淲ith our new partner Nissan, we鈥檙e eagerly awaiting the new challenges ahead. We鈥檙e very proud of our history in Formula E, and we鈥檙e looking forward to adding new pages to the series鈥� history books with our new partner and the new car.鈥�