Jaguar (chatchai/Bigstock.com)

Jaguar Cars is to compete in the all-electric Formula E motor racing series, before offering customers an electric road car by 2017.

The UK-based car manufacturer has a long motorsport history, but it hasn't put a car on the track for over decade. It competed in Formula 1 for many years, but sold its struggling team to red Bull in 2004.

Nick Rogers, group engineering director for JLR, said: “Electric vehicles will absolutely play a role in [our] future product portfolio and Formula E will give us a unique opportunity to further our development of electrification technologies.

“It is my belief that over the next five years we will see more changes in the automotive world than in the last three decades. The future is about being more connected and more sustainable. Formula E has recognised and reacted to those trends and the championship's exciting and pioneering approach is the perfect fit for our brand.”

Aside from the brand-building opportunities of racing a car in Formula E, Jaguar has a more practical reason for entering: CO2 across its fleet must average just 95g/km by 2020. The technologies developed on the track will assist Jaguar in building a zero-emissions electric car which will sit alongside its petrol and diesel vehicles.

Audi, DS and Renault are already using their Formula E participation to develop electric technologies. The series is currently only in its second season, but manufacturers see the opportunities it presents.

Jean Todt, President of motorsport's governing body the FIA, added: “We built this series to offer an alternative competition for manufacturers to step into the sport and develop road-relevant electric technologies. The choice of Jaguar to come back to motor racing with Formula E is proof of success.”

Williams will assist Jaguar in building its Formula E racer, having helped the firm develop its Jaguar C-X75, which featured in the latest James Bond film Spectre.