Polestar, the premium electric automotive brand spun off from Volvo, released a second teaser image of the upcoming Polestar 3 SUV.
Expected to launch in 2022, the battery electric Polestar 3 will be Polestar’s first SUV as well as the first to be built at a plant in Ridgeville, South Carolina near Charleston, sharing its assembly line with the Volvo S60 and the next-generation XC90. Both Volvo and Polestar are owned by Geely.
While company officials haven’t released many details about the new model, they did say the Polestar 3 is being created with intention of being among the most climate-responsible cars, and will eventually be fitted autonomous highway driving capabilities.
“We will build in America for Americans,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO, in a statement. “Polestar 3 is planned to be launched in 2022 as a premium electric performance SUV that will define the look of SUVs in the electric age. It will also be the first Polestar vehicle to be built in America.”
Looking ahead, the company expects to be operating in 30 markets by the end of 2023, and selling 290,000 annually by 2025.
Where the company currently stands
Polestar is currently sold on four continents and in 14 countries, including the United States. In fact, the brand launched with surprising swiftness, going from concept car to production in a mere 24 months, with sales having started stateside in 2020.
Currently, the automaker sells two vehicles here, the Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid, built at its Chengdu, China plant, and the Polestar 2 all-electric crossover utility vehicle, manufactured at the company’s Luqiao, China facility.
The brand’s headquarters is in Gothenburg, Sweden, on the Volvo campus while its research and development facilities are in Coventry, England, and other parts of Europe. Globally, Polestar employs 1,100 people.
Polestar’s evolving product line-up
The company’s two current vehicles include the Polestar 1, which is going away for the 2022 model year. The elegant plug-in hybrid 2+2 coupe with a pure EV range of 52 miles. A turbo- and supercharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine matched to an electric motor delivers 375 horsepower to the front wheels, while dual rear electric motors generate 114 horsepower to the rear wheels for a total system output of 619 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Opulent and lovely, the Polestar 1 is pricey and exclusive.
The company also sells the Polestar 2 EV, the brand’s first all-electric model. It employs Geely’s CMA architecture used in the Volvo S40 sedan and XC40 crossover. Currently offered with dual electric motors and all-wheel drive, it generates 408 horsepower, 487 pound-feet of torque and a range of 249 miles.
“We are not a virtual company waiting to build factories and sell cars; we are an actual company already building and selling cars around the world,” Ingenlath said, referring to the slew of upstart startup EV manufacturers with big plans, but no vehicles to sell.
To emphasize Polestar’s head start, Ingenlath said the Polestar 3 will be the first of three new vehicles launched during the next three years. The new models will be developed using Polestar’s own platform architecture.
To signal what’s coming, the Polestar Precept concept car, which foreshadows the company’s future products, will begin a national tour at Polestar retailers nationwide.
“From here on in, Polestar is all about growth,” Ingenlath said.
With their dismal sales, I would expect them to reveal more than a sheet covered blob. If it’s good looking, they may sell 27 next month rather than the usual 22.