Starting signal for the Polestar 1
VOLVO CARS/POLESTAR The Polestar company is moving into an electric future: the performance subsidiary of Swedish premium manufacturer Volvo Cars is becoming an electrified high-performance brand. The go-ahead has been given. Unveiling its plans in Shanghai, the company has now shown off the first model, with two more to come, a new production plant in China and a distribution channel that will be industry [...]
Now, at the unveiling of its plans in Shanghai, the company has shown off the first model and announced two more, a new production plant in China and a distribution channel that is expected to set industry standards.
Off the production line from 2019
The company has unveiled its first vehicle, the 600 hp/441 kW Polestar 1, which is scheduled to roll off the production line for the first time in mid-2019. In terms of technology and products, Polestar benefits from the synergies and economies of scale of the Volvo Car Group.
With polar star on the hood
The first production model, which has now been launched, is a two-door, 2+2-seater Grand Tourer Coupé with an "electric performance hybrid" powertrain. A plug-in hybrid vehicle that is supported by an internal combustion engine and is said to offer a purely electric range of up to 150 kilometers - more than any other comparable vehicle (according to factory specifications).
New sales concept
Polestar does away with traditional vehicle ownership: all vehicles are offered on a two- or three-year subscription basis and are 100 percent ordered online. Included in the fixed monthly rate with no down payment are pick-up and drop-off services and the option to rent alternative vehicles from Volvo and Polestar.
Future prospects
All future Polestar models will feature a fully electric powertrain. The Polestar 2, which will start production at the end of 2019, will be the Volvo Car Group's first battery electric vehicle (BEV): The mid-size model will compete with the Tesla Model 3, among others, and will be produced in higher volumes than the Polestar 1. The launch phase is completed by the Polestar 3, a large SUV-like electric car. The Polestar 1 is available for order now. Prices have not yet been announced.
