Why Mahindra races Porsche and Jaguar in Formula E

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Motorsport has played a massive role in forging the reputation – and our perception – of some of the world’s most iconic automotive brands. Think Ferrari, McLaren, Lotus, and Porsche.

But as much as motor racing is a marketing exercise to build brand awareness, it is also a high-pressure laboratory in which to push the boundaries of new technologies and stress-test the smartest engineers that help create them.

Which is exactly why Mahindra has been involved in the all-electric Formula E championship since its inception more than a decade ago.

The Indian automaker might seem like the most unlikely brand to follow the ‘Win on Sunday, sell on Monday’ ethos that motorsport delivers, especially considering its range of family-focused SUVs and rugged four-wheel drives.

But Formula E has proven to be a fertile test bed for the development of the new range of Mahindra electric vehicles which are earmarked to join the local lineup in the coming years.

Plus, Mahindra Racing has attracted some of the world’s best drivers and has been a consistent championship contender with five race victories, 29 podium finishes, and 11 pole positions.

This weekend, it starts again with the first round of the 2025/2026 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

If you’re not up to speed with Formula E, it is a racing series for fully electric open-wheel race cars on temporary street circuits around the world. There are 12 rounds, 11 teams, and 22 drivers.

The current cars are all built around an identical chassis, known as the Spark Gen3, with a liquid-cooled 47kWh battery pack developed by Williams Advanced Engineering that is capable of flash-charging at up to 600kW.

All cars have a twin-motor configuration with a standardised generator on the front axle, solely used to replenish the battery under braking, while the rear motor is developed by the team or manufacturer and is limited to a maximum 350kW of power in qualifying, and 300kW during the race.

The races are fast and furious and each circuit features a dedicated Attack Mode section off the preferred racing line, allowing drivers to employ a burst of full qualifying power to set up a potential overtaking manoeuvre on the next straight.

As such, Formula E cars are the fastest-accelerating single-seater race cars, sprinting from 0-100km/h in less than 2.5 seconds, and have a theoretical top speed of 322km/h.

For Mahindra Racing, it retains the same driver lineup as last season, including former champion Dutchman Nyck De Vries who finished runner-up in 2024/2025, and Switzerland’s Eduardo Mortara who set the pace with the fastest time in pre-season testing.

But what does Mahindra hope to achieve from this venture?

At its core there are three interlocking ambitions: demonstrate technological leadership in EV systems, translate race-derived innovation into road-car applications (the so-called ‘race to road’ strategy), and elevate the global footprint of an Indian brand competing on the world stage.

The company itself states that Formula E is “the cutting edge of EV technology” and “plays a strategic role in realising Mahindra’s vision of the Future of Mobility”.

In practical terms, Mahindra Racing has used the platform to sharpen its software control systems, battery management and motor packaging under the intense scrutiny of racing. These learnings feed into its expanding EV business in India and abroad.

Sustainability also plays a starring role. Mahindra Racing was the first Formula E team to be awarded the FIA Environmental Accreditation Three-Star rating and has claimed Net-Zero Carbon status since its inception.

In an age when automakers must prove their leadership in low-carbon mobility, the racing platform becomes a credible ‘sandbox’ in which to experiment with efficiency, recycling, and sustainability practices.

Looking ahead, Mahindra Racing has already committed to the next Gen 4 iteration of the Formula E championship beginning at the end of next year and running through until at least 2030.

Mahindra’s Gen 4 car – dubbed the M12Electro – will feature a bigger 55kWh battery, a more powerful rear motor capable of producing 450kW during the race and 600kW in Attack Mode, plus a 700kW regenerative braking front motor.

The chassis has two aerodynamic configurations – high downforce for qualifying and low downforce for the races – and is constructed with 100 per cent recyclable materials.

“Mahindra Racing has always been a symbol of our commitment to the Race to Road journey – where cutting-edge innovation on the track directly shapes the clean, intelligent, and high-performance mobility solutions we deliver to customers,” said R Velusamy, Chairman of Mahindra Racing.

“Formula E is a powerful platform for innovating new technology, giving us the ability to experiment, learn, and advance electric powertrain efficiency, sustainable materials, and software intelligence. 

“As we step into the Gen 4 era, our ambition only grows stronger. Continuing this journey until 2030 is a testament to our belief in the sport, in electrification, and in India’s role in leading global sustainable mobility. We are proud to champion this future, and Gen 4 represents an exciting new chapter for Mahindra Racing and the Mahindra Group.”

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