Jaguar Land Rover is "preparing to enter Formula E with the electric racing series also set to confirm more manufacturers in its 2016-17 season," according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag:
"We have some really important news coming up that will reinforce the momentum of the championship. We are announcing more OEMs (original equipment manufacturer) coming." Agag "gave no names," but an informed source said separately that Jaguar, owned by India's Tata Motors, "were planning to enter in the 2016-17 season."
Jaguar has also scheduled a news conference for an "exciting announcement'" on Tuesday.
Sky television reported that JLR, which is expected to commit to launching an electric car, "had decided to join Formula E to develop green technologies for their road cars in conjunction with the Williams Formula One group."
Williams F1 CEO Mike O'Driscoll "is a former managing director of Jaguar, leading the company through the sale to Tata in 2008" (REUTERS, 12/11).
MORE TO COME: Jaguar Land Rover's potential Formula E entrance confirms Agag's statement that interest in the series from car manufacturers is "very high." He told SBD Global, "We are in conversations with two or three other OEMs who are interested in the championship." Those could join the series as soon as next season, according to Agag. Renault, Mahindra and DS are currently the only big manufacturers involved in Formula E. Renault and Mahindra joined the series for its inaugural season. DS, which is part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, teamed up with Virgin ahead of this season. In addition, Volkswagen joined the ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport as a strategic partner (HJ Mai, SBD Global).
