Audi and Schaeffler have announced the continuation of their Formula E partnership, including development of the Audi e-tron FE07 for the seventh FIA Formula E season.
The partnership has been one of the most successful in Formula E, with a tally of 40 podium finishes and more than 1,000 points, the squad has set benchmarks both on and off the race track. Since the series debuted in 2014, Schaeffler has backed the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team as its technology partner.
“The combination has been a perfect match from day one,” said Matthias Zink, CEO Automotive OEM at Schaeffler. “As a company, we want to shape sustainable mobility in innovative ways with our powertrain and suspension technology development. Formula E is an ideal stage for us to present these ideas and to compete at the highest sporting level.”
After partnering the privateer ABT Sportsline team in the first three years, Schaeffler has been developing the powertrain for Formula E with Audi ever since their factory-backed entry debuted in 2017. On a race car that is standardized for all teams in all other respects, the combination of the motor, transmission, inverter and software is regarded as the car’s centerpiece. Going forward, Schaeffler, as technology and development partner, will primarily be involved in areas such as bearing development, component manufacturing, transmission, motor and drive concept development, as well as by supporting test bench work and prototype construction.
“I am delighted that Audi and Schaeffler will continue to form a powerful team in the coming years,” said head of Audi Motorsport Dieter Gass. “Together, we have already achieved a lot, but in the view of the increasing competitiveness in Formula E, we also have big aims going forward. Therefore, the fact that we’ll be able to tackle the seventh season with joint forces and as a well-gelled team is of particular importance.”
