Polestar previews first SUV
That shadowy form under the dust sheet is the upcoming Polestar 3, and although it is yet to be unveiled the silhouette is enough to confirm this is an SUV, the electric brand’s first. We knew it was coming but we didn’t know where it was coming from. Now we do know: this SUV will be born in South Carolina, USA.
Polestar is taking a leaf out of BMW’s and Mercedes’ book and making its new SUV in the Deep South. In contrast, the current model, the Tesla Model 3-rivalling Polestar 2, is made in a plant in China, set up by car giant Geely which together with Volvo Cars runs Polestar as its all-electric premium arm.
The new car, described as “an aerodynamic electric performance SUV” will be manufactured in a Volvo plant in Ridgeville, South Carolina, close to where BMW assembles its X models for worldwide consumption and nearby Alabama where Mercedes churns out many of its GL range. Production is due to start next year.
Currently the plant, opened as recently as 2018, makes Volvo S60 sedans but in the future is expected to assemble electric Volvos as well as the new Polestar, using bespoke new vehicle architecture designed from scratch for full electrification.
Polestar, which has set itself a “moonshot” target to create the first entirely climate-neutral car by 2030, says producing cars in the US will reduce the environmental impact of shipping vehicles around the world.
“I am proud that our first SUV will be manufactured in South Carolina. From now on, the USA is no longer an export market but a home market,” says Polestar chief executive Thomas Ingenlath.
After Polestar’s electric SUV arrives in 2022 the next new model is expected to be a version of the Precept concept, the luxury flagship to take on the Tesla Model S – and which you can get a sneak preview of when it makes its UK debut here at Goodwood at the
Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard on 8th-11th July.
Inspired by and masterminded from Sweden, made in China and America, sold across Europe, North America and China, and previewed in West Sussex… Polestar might only be young still but its global ambition is plain to see.
Polestar
Polestar 3
EV
