Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Mahindra's Formula E stay long-term strategy, not manufacturer cycle
Mahindra is a car company from India.
They race special electric cars in a competition called Formula E. Some other big car companies, like Audi, Mercedes, and McLaren, decided to stop racing there.
But Mahindra wants to keep racing for a very long time, until at least 2030.
The boss of the racing team, Frederic Bertrand, says this is part of a big plan.
Mahindra wants to learn how to make better electric cars by racing them.
The team has been doing well, winning a race in Tokyo and taking many pole positions.
Racing teaches them how to use energy very smartly.
That knowledge helps them make road cars that can drive farther on one charge.
Mahindra says its goal is to compete for the Formula E title year after year.
Mahindra Racing has committed to Formula E through the Gen4 era until at least 2030, extending a relationship that began before the championship's first race in 2014.
CEO and Team Principal Frederic Bertrand says the commitment is a long-term strategy to use electric racing as a technology laboratory, not a short-term gamble.
Audi, Mercedes, and McLaren have exited Formula E, while Mahindra remains a founding team and the first OEM to commit to the championship.
In Season 11, Nyck de Vries and Edoardo Mortara combined for five podiums as Mahindra finished fourth in the teams' championship.
Mahindra says lessons in software, hardware, and people development will feed into its road cars under its 'Race to Road' philosophy.
- Who
- Mahindra Racing, led by CEO and Team Principal Frederic Bertrand, with drivers Nyck de Vries and Edoardo Mortara; the vision originated with Anand Mahindra.
- What
- Mahindra confirmed a long-term commitment to Formula E through the Gen4 era until at least 2030, treating the championship as a technology laboratory for its automotive business.
- When
- Reported Aug 15 ahead of the Formula E season finale; the Gen4 era begins in 2026-27.
- Where
- London, ahead of the season finale; the article also references the Tokyo E-Prix.
- Why
- To develop software, hardware, and people expertise for road cars under its 'Race to Road' philosophy and to show an Indian manufacturer can compete at the highest level of international motorsport.
Mahindra's long-term commitment
Manufacturers that exited
Staying in Formula E
Mahindra's long-term commitment
Bertrand says Mahindra's decision is a long-term strategy rooted in the vision of Anand Mahindra himself, using electric racing as a technology laboratory, not a gamble on short-term fortunes.
Manufacturers that exited
Audi, Mercedes, and McLaren left the championship, showing what Bertrand calls the normal 'up and down' of manufacturers changing their strategies.
Measuring success
Mahindra's long-term commitment
The programme's value goes beyond results, feeding software, hardware, and people development into future road cars.
Manufacturers that exited
Bertrand says 'the satisfaction will be full when we are fighting for the title,' warning that small strategic mistakes are harshly punished in Formula E.
- Company
- Mahindra Racing (part of the Mahindra Group)
- Commitment
- Formula E through the Gen4 era until at least 2030
- CEO and Team Principal
- Frederic Bertrand
- Gen4 era start
- 2026-27
- Season 11 result
- Fourth in the teams' championship with five podiums
- Best championship result
- Third place in 2016-17, with 215 points in Season 3
- This season's highlights
- Mortara took four pole positions, matching the single-season record, and de Vries won the Tokyo E-Prix
- Manufacturers that exited
- Audi, Mercedes, and McLaren