POLESTAR, Volvo’s new electric performance brand, will have its first plant up and running in Chengdu, China, by the middle of next year with initial plans to make 500 of its first model, Polestar 1, annually.
The brand already has an established route to market through Volvo dealers although chief operating officer Jonathan Goodman said they will need to have their own “Polestar Space”.
He said: “We hope existing dealers will want to invest in the Polestar brand. Investment will require a separate Space, around 300sq m of showroom where customers can touch and feel the product. The showrooms will be staffed by product specialists, working on a non-commission basis and all financial transactions will be conducted on line.”
Goodman added: “We are not interested in setting up ‘cathedral’ outlets, the Polestar Spaces will be small and intimate and based in key major cities. All aftersales and service will be carried out by Volvo and we will offer customers collection and delivery services.”
Goodman said: “We are not interested in setting up ‘cathedral’ outlets,
Polestar 1, a 600hp petrol electric hybrid. It will be launched mid 2019 and will be followed the following year by the small, all electric Polestar 2 in 2020, then a larger SUV, again all electric.
Goodman said he is already looking at how production can be ramped up higher, such is the level of interest. “We have already had 6,000 inquiries for Polestar 1 from all over the world. China will be the number one market but the car will also be launched in the US and six key European markets, Germany, France, UK, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands.
It will be manufactured in left and drive only but the following models will be available with right hand drive.”
He added: “China to account for 40% of sales and that market is going to be massive with the intent to have 15% of new energy vehicles on the road by 2022 – that would be a market larger than Germany’s total vehicle sales.”
Polestar 1 is based on Volvo’s large SPA platform gets its power from The company’s 2-litre, four cylinder petrol engine with turbo giving 325hp. Two electric motors mounted on the rear axle provide an additional 275hp and there’s a massive 1,000nm of torque. Comparisons with Tesla are inevitable.
Having acquired the Polestar performance and racing brand in 2015, Goodman said it was always the intention to establish a stand-alone brand. “With the backing of Volvo it’s like being involved in a 90 year old start-up. As well as development facilities and aftersales we also benefit from Volvo’s experience in vehicle production.”
The Polestar 2 willl be based on Volvo’s CMA platform while the SUV will have SPA underpinnings. Both platforms have been developed from the start for electrification.
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