The car manufacturers of Formula E

Venturi

Team name: Venturi Formula E

Little-known car manufacturer Venturi, originating in Monaco, has competed in Formula E since the 2014-2015 season, as well as having recently taken the electric land speed record. The team is owned by Venturi boss Gildo Pallanca Pastor and Leonardo DiCaprio (yes, that one). German Maro Engel and Frenchman Stéphane Sarrazin are Venturi’s Formula E drivers.

Jaguar

Team name: Panasonic Jaguar Racing

Jaguar recently announced the official launch of its factory Formula E team for the 2016-2017 season after a motorsport hiatus of more than a decade. The technology that Jaguar develops in its Formula E effort will undoubtedly influence its upcoming electric cars, including an all-new, all-electric SUV. Briton Adam Carroll and 21-year-old New Zealander Mitch Evans will be driving the Jaguar cars.

DS

Team name: DS Virgin Racing

PSA’s upmarket DS brand also competes in Formula E, having entered the race series in the 2015-2016 season. Like many of its competitors, DS has entered Formula E to develop its electric car technologies for road cars, as well as reach new potential customers, according to CEO Yves Bonnefont. Britain's Sam Bird and Argentinian José María López drive for DS in Formula E.

Faraday Future

Team name: Faraday Future Dragon Racing

Although not an official road car maker yet (its first car is due soon, though), Faraday Future has been an entrant in Formula E since its beginning in the 2014-2015 season. Its future model of electric vehicles will be heavily influenced by its Formula E operations too, as is evident in its FFZERO1 concept, first shown earlier this year. Belgian former F1 driver Jérôme d'Ambrosio and Frenchman Loïc Duval are FF’s two drivers.

NextEV

Team name: NextEV Nio

Another not-just-yet road car brand competing in Formula E is NextEV, whose first model will be an ambitious £1 million electric hypercar. Its 1000kW – 1340bhp-plus – motor will benefit from technologies honed in competition in Formula E, and the model will be one of the fastest accelerating cars in the world when it reaches production. Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr. and Briton Oliver Turvey make up the brand’s team of drivers.

Audi

Team name: ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport

Although Audi’s Formula E outfit won’t be a factory operation until the 2017-2018 season, Audi has ramped up its involvement in the ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport team until then, with added ‘financial and technical support’ for the team in the upcoming 2016/2017 season. It’s not known if the drivers will change with the transition to a factory team, but for the 2016-2017 season, Brazilian former F1 driver Lucas di Grassi and German Daniel Abt will be driving the racers.

BMW

Team name: Andretti Formula E

BMW has a shoe-in to the Formula E world with its co-operation with the Andretti Formula E team, announced earlier this year, and is another carmaker with a raft of electric models on the way, as is proven by its recent activity surrounding its i electric sub-brand. BMW’s sales and marketing boss, Ian Robertson, has previously hinted at a full factory effort, although this is expected to take effect after the current season finishes.

Mercedes