Formula E

Mahindra “is committed to Formula E” as Gen4 decision looms

The choice over entering as a manufacturer or customer team remains a sticking point

Stefan Mackley

Edited: Jan 14, 2025, 1:46 PM

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Mahindra team principal Fred Bertrand says the outfit “is committed to Formula E”, despite the Indian manufacturer having yet to formally decide on its future in the all-electric championship.

Mahindra has been part of Formula E since the championship’s inception back in 2014, during which time it has taken five victories and finished a season-best of third in the 2015-16 teams’ championship.

Other manufacturers including Nissan, Jaguar, Porsche, Maserati and Lola have all committed to Formula E’s Gen4 regulations over the last six months and which are set to come into effect for the 2026-27 season.

Motorsport.com understands that a delay in any decision from Mahindra centres around whether it joins up to the new regulations as a manufacturer – something which it has done since the championship was founded – or enters as a customer team.

“Mahindra is committed to Formula E. I think commitment to the championship is very high and being on this platform makes sense for Mahindra [and it] is there since the beginning,” Bertrand told Motorsport.com ahead of the latest round in Mexico City last weekend.

“This has not changed, that's why we still investigate, otherwise we would have to stop investigating.”

He added: “We would like to stay as a manufacturer, but then there are so many other items we need to be sure of, so that's what we try to evaluate properly but we still have time, to be honest, to develop a car.”

Frederic Bertrand, CEO of Mahindra Racing, talks to the media in the press conference

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

Despite missing a 31 December manufacturer deadline as outlined by the FIA for Gen4, discussions between the governing body and Mahindra are ongoing with it understood that an entry would still be accepted.

This is due to Mahindra being a founding member of the championship and on the technical working group, with Bertrand adding that other OEMs should still be allowed to enter in the right circumstances.

It was confirmed to Motorsport.com that Hyundai had held discussions with the FIA in recent months about a Gen4 entry, despite the Korean manufacturer having announced last year it would be joining the World Endurance Championship with an LMDh car.

“I still don't see the point where there is a deadline for them [FIA]. I think that everybody will be smart enough in case someone, not even us, comes later and is ready,” said Bertrand.

“I think one of the restrictions they have with the regulation is to commit on some deadline with the suppliers and a few things like that, so they can go on with those deadlines and then if someone is coming later then they just need to readapt a little bit.

“I don't see any reason why you would block someone coming later if it feels they are ready. That's the big question mark: if you come so late, will you be ready?”

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