Major Chinese manufacturers offered insight into electric racing’s future in Shanghai

Country’s carmakers take full advantage of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s first visit in five years.

A host of leading Chinese vehicle manufacturers visited the Shanghai E-Prix for an access-all-areas insight into the future of electric single-seater racing.

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship has returned to China this weekend for the first time since 2019, with the series’ very first race having been held in Beijing just shy of ten years ago.

To mark the occasion, representatives from some of the country’s key carmakers – Xiaomi, BYD, LYNK & CO, Zeekr, IM Motor – were eager to attend the event as special guests of Formula E and the FIA. 

As part of their visit, they were introduced to teams and officials, while a workshop on the pioneering GEN4 single-seater – set to make its competitive debut in Season 13 – gave them a glimpse of the championship’s technical roadmap and future direction.

“We’re delighted that Formula E is back in China, and even more excited to see such huge interest and enthusiasm in the sport from fans and stakeholders alike,” commented Zhou Xiaoxu, President of the FIA Electric and New Energy Championships Commission.

“China has a booming EV market, with almost 9.5 millions unit sold in 2023, over 1.2 millions being for the export market. This is reflected in the fact that so many of the country’s manufacturers attended the event to find out more about the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and its future possibilities. It was an absolute privilege to offer them such an up-close insight into the pinnacle of electric single-seater racing, and we hope it has whetted their appetite for more.”

“I’m delighted to be here this weekend at the Shanghai E-Prix, confirmed Zhao Yuhui, Vice-President of Zeekr. I first heard of Formula E ten years ago and the growth of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship since then is truly remarkable. I strongly believe the series will contribute to the transition to electric mobility and the upcoming GEN4 race car seems to be the perfect platform to showcase the potential of such an innovative technology.”