Yamaha Motor and Lola Cars have signed a technical partnership agreement for the development and supply of high-performance electric powertrains to be part of an official manufacturer in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Through this connection with Formula E, Yamaha Motor will work on developing leading electric technologies with the aim of raising its expertise and capabilities in this field.

Lola is developing a vehicle package that can be supplied to racing teams competing in Formula E. Yamaha plans to develop and supply the electric powertrain (power unit), working closely in technical partnership with Lola aiming to develop and acquire the ultimate in energy management technology and the world’s highest levels of power density and efficiency.

The focus of this project is squarely around technological development in which Lola is fully invested. We see the highly efficient 350 kW electric powertrain that underpins the manufacturer’s perimeter in Formula E, as a cornerstone technology with exciting applications across many forms of topflight international motorsport in the coming years.

—Till Bechtolsheimer, Chairman, Lola Cars

Lola is a well-established British racing car development company that has produced vehicles that have competed in numerous international automobile races. With a commitment to sustainable motorsports, Lola aims to acquire electric racing technology by planning to develop and supply the manufacturer’s perimeter compliant with Formula E homologation standards.

Yamaha has set a companywide environmental goal to achieve carbon neutrality in Scope 3 emissions by 2050.

Founded by Eric Broadley in 1958, Lola Cars has designed and produced nearly 5000 race cars spanning 400 different model types, gaining unparalleled success in motorsport championships around the world, including IndyCar, Le Mans, Formula 1, Can-Am, Formula 3000, Formula 5000, A1GP, Formula Ford and Touring Cars.

Since acquiring Lola Cars in 2022, Bechtolsheimer and his team have been developing their program from a new global headquarters in Silverstone, UK, building on the legacy of the most successful manufacturer of customer race cars of all time.

The partnership with Yamaha continues Lola Cars’ longstanding prominence in Japan. Lola Cars has a long history of involvement in Japanese motorsport, primarily in what is now known as the Japanese Super Formula Championship, winning 13 Championships in two decades from 1987 when it was known as the All Japan F3000. Lola has also notably partnered with Japanese manufacturers to create iconic vehicles across multiple racing disciplines including Formula 1, IndyCar and Le Mans.