Nissan became the first Japanese manufacturer to enter the series when it partnered with the championship-winning e.dams outfit in 2018/19. It is a world leader in the design and manufacture of all-electric cars, with over 365,000 Nissan LEAF vehicles sold since the model debuted in 2010. For its entry into Formula E, Nissan has made use of its existing EV experience to develop the all-new powertrain for its Formula E race car. In turn, the learnings from the track will shape the next generation of EVs from the Japanese car maker.
In its first season, the team managed a second-place finish in the Teams' championship after six podium finishes, six pole positions and 16 Super Pole appearances combined by Buemi and Rowland, making Nissan e.dams the best qualifying team in the championship. The team ended the season with its first-ever victory during the final race weekend in New York City.
For their first two campaigns in Formula E, Nissan employed the services of Formula E veteran and former champion Sebastien Buemi alongside British driver Oliver Rowland. Building on their performance last season the pair piloted the team's new 'kimono-inspired' car for 2019/20, after getting off to a slow start, Buemi earned Nissan their first podium at Round 4 in Mexico City with a third-place finish.
The Nissan duo got into their strides in the six-race season-finale in Berlin, Buemi claiming three podiums to his name and Rowland added to this with his debut victory in Formula E. An impressive run of results to allow Nissan e.dams to fire into second in the teams' standings.
Nissan e.dams headed into the 2020/21 campaign looking like one of the form prospects. The Japanese marque made up for lost time last season after its twin-motor solution was outlawed, and ended on a high with Rowland's maiden win in Berlin. Season 7 was a slow burn, with bad luck curtailing the front-running pace - certainly for the Brit.
Rowland rounded off with another podium at Tempelhof, adding to silverware in Puebla. Converting a London DNF after a tangle with Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes-EQ) could well have seen Rowland trouble the standings' top three. A best of fifth in Rome was all Buemi had to show for his lowest points score in Formula E to date.
With Maximillian Guenther drafted into the team for GEN 2's swansong, the struggles for Nissan continued with their lowest scoring season to date, ending 2022 down in ninth place with Buemi's best finish of fifth in Marrakesh their highest score.
For Season 9 and the beginning of the GEN 3 Era, Nissan took complete control of the squad bringing an all-new line-up for their factory entry, putting their faith in the hands of race-winner Norman Nato who returned after a one-season sabbatical and highly-rated rookie Sacha Fenestraz who made his full-time start.
The inaugural GEN 3 season was neither here nor there for the Japanese manufacturer. The highlights were undoubtedly a second place for Nato in the second round of racing in Rome and a maiden pole for Fenestraz in Formula E’s first-ever Cape Town E-Prix. The team had strong one-lap pace, with either Fenestraz or Nato starting in the top three in seven races, but the French pairing ultimately did not have the race pace to convert their qualifying results.
Season 10 saw Nissan replace the departing Norman Nato with the well-known face of Oliver Rowland. Rowland’s return to the Japanese outfit has been blistering, with the British driver fighting at the top end of the field throughout. After failing two score points in the first two races, Rowland managed to secure a four-race run on the podium. This included a win and fastest lap in the opener in Misano and a home podium for Nissan with a second place in Tokyo.
Rowland’s consistent performances, combined with flashes of form from Fenestraz have left Nissan firmly in the hunt for a top-three finish, come the end of the season.