Mercedes has confirmed its plans to join the Formula E grid for the 2019/20 season, delaying its debut by a year to Season 6 following its initial agreement with the all-electric series.
The news comes on the same day the German marque announced it would quit the DTM series, as it looks to focus on its existing Formula 1 team and its new Formula E entry.
"In motorsport, like in every other area, we want to be the benchmark in the premium segment and also explore innovative new projects," said Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff.
"With Formula 1 and Formula E, we have achieved exactly this balance. Formula E is like an exciting start-up venture – it offers a brand new format, combining racing with a strong event character, in order to promote current and future technologies.
"Electrification is happening in the road car world and Formula E offers manufacturers an interesting platform to bring this technology to a new audience – and to do so with a completely new kind of racing, different to any other series.
"I’m pleased that we were able to extend our entry option for one year to the 2019/20 season. This gives us time to properly understand the series and to prepare for our entry in the right way."
Mercedes joins the likes of Audi, Jaguar and Renault, while BMW has confirmed its own manufacturer team for Season 5, in association with Andretti.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Formula E, added: "Today is a great day as we welcome Mercedes to the Formula E family – adding to the increasing number of manufacturers joining the electric revolution.
"This shows how much the world is changing, not only in motorsport, but the whole automotive industry. We’re witnessing a transformation that will first change our cities, and then our roads.
"Formula E is the championship that embodies that change, and together with all our teams and manufacturers we’ll keep pushing for technologies, to have better and more affordable electric cars."
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