DS Automobiles have been successful in their application to become an official manufacturer in Formula E.
The FIA confirmed that they would be able to enter their own powertrain from 2018/19 onwards – the point when entrants will be able to use just one car per race.
The decision means that DS will be able to supply other teams with its powertrain from season five onwards.
It comes after the team announced they were looking for more autonomy over technical decisions, as at present the Virgin Racing team have the final say due to them having owning the series license.
The French manufacturer said the decision was also made to boost the electrification of its Peugeot and Citroen road car range, as they are hoping that developing their own powertrain will help speed this process up.
DS Brand CEO Yves Bonnefort said that the group were delighted to have been selected by the FIA, and reiterated his belief that the Formula E had a strong future.
Bonnefort said, “Motorsport serves as a tremendous research and development laboratory and I am convinced that the Formula E is the motor sport of the 21st century.
“We are proud to have been selected by the FIA as official manufacturer.”
Speaking after the announcement, DS Performance Director Xavier Mestelan-Pinon echoed these sentiments, and said that his engineers now faced a ‘stimulating’ challenge.
He said, “To be one of the championship’s official manufacturers will enable us to become even more responsive, boost our research and development activities and contribute to the electrification of DS Automobiles’ road car range.
“Our technical staff face the extremely stimulating challenge of having to produce all-electric single-seater cars capable of covering entire races.
“The fifth FIA Formula E Championship is poised to be a revolution and we are proud to be playing a key part in the process.”
