Formula E president Alejandro Agag said the announcement was “perhaps one of the greatest days in the history of the championship.
Maserati, a Formula One winner with Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1950s, will compete in Formula E from 2023 as the first Italian brand to enter the Electric World Championship.
Chief executive David Grasso took the first step “back to the future” for the 107-year-old company famous for fast luxury cars and keen to re-establish its sporting credentials.
The Modena-based marque is part of Stellantis, formed last year from the merger of Fiat Chrysler and France’s PSA, and has already announced that all of its models will have electric versions by 2025.
Grasso told reporters that Maserati had been working with Formula E for a year on plans to return to the racetrack for the first time since 2010, when it competed in the GT1 sportscar championship.
Formula E president Alejandro Agag said the announcement was “perhaps one of the greatest days in the history of the championship.
“For a brand with a racing legacy as Maserati … coming into the electric revolution that we are leading is truly an incredible moment for Formula E.”
The FIA-sanctioned city-based series will begin its ninth season next year with the third generation (Gen3) car, the world’s most efficient and capable of reaching speeds of 320kph.
Nissan, Jaguar, Porsche, Mahindra, the Stelantis-owned DS and China’s NIO are the manufacturers signed up so far for 2023, when the $13 million cost cap will come into effect. McLaren also has an option.
Grasso promised to give details soon as to how Maserati would participate.
“Formula E will be our technical laboratory to accelerate the development of high-efficiency electrified powertrains and intelligent software for our road sports cars,” said Jean-Marc Finot, Stelantis’ head of motorsport.
Grasso said racing was key to rebuilding Maserati, and that other steps would follow.
A final return to Formula One, where Stelantis is active with the Sauber-run Alfa Romeo team, was not ruled out.
Formula E lost BMW and Audi last season, and Mercedes will leave later this year, but Agag said it remains as relevant as ever for manufacturers.
“It’s great to have an Italian team,” he said. “It took a few years but I think it can’t be a better brand than Maserati.
“We already have a great race in Rome and are a great partner on the broadcast side with Mediaset and Sky but now we have an Italian team.”
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