The world of Formula E returned to Tokyo on May 17 for a two-day showdown. Now in its 11th year, the all-electric global championship has cemented itself as a proving ground for sustainable motorsports.
Racing on home turf, Team Nissan drew special attention as the sole Japanese automaker on the grid. British driver Oliver Rowland rose to the occasion, clinching victory in Sunday's race and tightening his position in the season standings.
But while the team enjoyed a boost on the track, the mood at Nissan's corporate headquarters told a different story. The company is facing a turbulent time. Slumping global sales and a string of strategic missteps have severely undermined confidence in the once-dominant auto giant.
In May, Nissan announced a plan to cut approximately 20,000 jobs, or 15% of its global workforce. Merger talks with Honda, once seen as a potential lifeline, have collapsed over fundamental disagreements. Meanwhile, escalating US tariffs on Japanese vehicles add to the pressure.
Still, Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal of Nissan Formula E, remains optimistic. In an exclusive interview with JAPAN Forward, Volpe shares why he believes Nissan's golden era is far from over. He has been with Nissan for over ten years.
Excerpts follow.
Team Nissan Leads the Way
What competitive advantage does Team Nissan have over other teams?
First of all, Oliver is in amazing shape this year. He seems to be controlling every single moment, apart from little mistakes, 99% of the time. He's really on top of everything.
Our new car, unveiled this year [2025], is a big step forward in terms of the powertrain energy efficiency. This is key in Formula E races. On the team side, we have fine-tuned our process. We have become very agile, smart, and fast in processing information and making decisions. So we don't make as many mistakes as we have in the past.
How does your team collaborate with Nissan's EV department?
We have selected a certain number of engineers working on electrification in Japan and moved them to France, where we are based for the car development. They also work with the rest of the team in Japan to ensure a constant connection between the two groups and an exchange of ideas. Proposals are made in both directions, from Nissan to Formula E, but also from Formula E to Nissan.
Formula E manufacturers are very focused on the powertrain. There is a lot of R&D in this area and technical learning that can be exchanged between Formula E and electric vehicles. Therefore, the investments made in Formula E are relevant for Nissan's core business.
While we don't have a direct impact on Nissan's business side, Team Nissan definitely helps the company in promoting our brand and its credibility when it comes to electric cars.
From Woes to Glows
Do you think Nissan's financial struggles will affect the EV business?
Nissan is committed to Ambition 2030: our roadmap to electrify the majority of our vehicle lineup by 2030. At the moment, there are no obstacles to this program. If anything, it has become a public showcase of how much progress Nissan has made.
Just three years ago, the team was struggling, but now it's one of the top manufacturers in the championship. I hope this serves as a sign of what Nissan is still capable of, not only in motorsports but in our core business.
Are you confident that Nissan could turn things around?
We are indeed in a tough moment right now. But I'm sure the new CEO and management are putting together something very strong. I'm sure that 12 to 18 months from now, the company will be in a completely different situation.
Will the Trump administration's anti-green policy affect Formula E?
These political decisions come and go. When it comes to our core business, it's important to have a solid strategy to react and adapt accordingly. I believe Formula E is still in a phase of significant growth across all territories, including in motorsport as a whole.
Because we are still in a growth phase, I don't think these decisions will have a major impact just yet. Unlike Formula One, which is more established and could be more directly affected, we're still expanding. These decisions might slow our growth slightly. But they won't stop our momentum.
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Author: Kenji Yoshida
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