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The automotive market is changing very quickly. Every day there are a slew of new electric vehicles from brands you’ve never heard of, or manufacturers turning beloved internal combustion models into electric cars. But one electric brand stands out from the competition, and that’s Polestar. This Volvo cousin has become Geely’s autonomous electric vehicle brand, and here’s why it deserves more attention than it gets.
Polestar started as a performance brand but morphed into an electric badge
Studio shot of a Blue Volvo C30 Polestar Performance Concept prototype
You may have heard the name Polestar before. It’s an evocative name, to say the least. Polestar was Volvo’s performance division for its ultra-rare performance cars, such as the Volvo C30 Polestar Edition, of which only 250 were made. Polestar represents the Swedish company’s ability to let loose once in a while, but now it represents something else entirely.
A step ahead of the competition?
Front quarter shot of a blue Polestar 6
Volvo sees itself as an innovator. His goal has always been to disrupt the industry in the name of progress. For example, it was the first company to introduce the three-point seat belt, prompting many other automakers to follow suit. The thing is, Volvo is always one step ahead of its game, so it’s no surprise that Volvo is investing heavily in electrification. In fact, the company plans to phase out all internal combustion cars by 2030. According to Volvo’s website, some of its mid-decade goals include: 50% of sales will be electric, 40% less CO2 emissions over the life cycle, 50% online sales and 50% internal software. Something also very distinctive about Volvo is that “its values are in tune with societal trends”. All of this has allowed Volvo to grow significantly as a company over the past two years, and most likely means that Volvo will continue to grow in the future as the market moves towards electrification and sustainability.
It’s not just Volvo changing brand – Polestar too
Overhead shot of the silver Polestar 5 standing indoors
You may be thinking – “Volvo is going electric. No surprise. What does this mean for their performance cars?” Don’t worry, the company has thought about enthusiasts. The Swedish automaker has revived the Polestar name as a separate entity from Volvo. You may remember Polestar’s first production car, the rare and beautiful Polestar 1, a grand tourer that produced 600 horsepower from a twin-charged inline-four and engine. The Polestar 1 arrived with a bang showing the world what the company was capable of. It was undeniable from the start that Polestar would be a major player in the electric world. Then came Polestar’s first all-electric car, the Polestar 2, intended to compete with the Tesla Model 3. With similar design elements to the Polestar 1, but with a more accessible price tag (starting MSRP is 48,800 $) and being a more functional sedan, the Polestar 2 proved that Tesla’s dominance in the electric market is not destined to last.
Polestar’s plans for the future
A profile view of a blue Polestar 6 standing indoors
We explored the future of Volvo and what Polestar has already done, so now we can dive into the future of Polestar and what lies ahead. The company was successful, but it was unable to appeal to a wider market, with only around 30,000 cars sold in 2021. The company hopes to increase production in the future and sell to a wider range customers by bringing new products. . One example is the recently unveiled Polestar 3, the company’s first electric SUV, with hopes to sell many units over the next two years. According to the company, the car’s mission statement is “Polestar 3 reinvents the SUV through premium electric performance and innovative, sustainable technology”.
With the Polestar 3, the company hopes to compete with the Model Y, Mercedes EQC and BMW iX3 and be seen as a more mainstream alternative to established brands. The Polestar 3 features a sleek design, dual electric motors, all-wheel drive and a range of 300 miles. The company was supposed to start manufacturing 3 in 2022 in South Carolina, but it seems more likely to be in 2023 due to ongoing supply chain issues. As for the Polestar 4, we don’t know much about it except that it will most likely ride on the same platform as the 3 and be a sleeker, more crossover version of the 3. The company reportedly plans to unveil the car fully in 2023 and release it in 2024. Expect the same specs and similar pricing as the 3.
How Polestar will compete with Tesla, Audi and Porsche
A glimpse of the rear of three Polestar cars – the 3, 4 and 5.
The Polestar 3 and 4 are interesting and should sell well, but the most enthusiastic products are the Polestar 5 and 6, and for good reason. They are elegant, bold, ostentatious and aggressive. The Polestar 5 is a four-door grand tourer and is slated to launch in 2025, fitted with twin electric motors making – wait i. – 884 four-wheel horsepower. That puts it almost in line to compete with the Tesla Model S Plaid, Porsche Taycan, Lucid Air and Audi e-Tron. According to Polestar, the company plans to build an all-new manufacturing facility in China to produce the 5, showing great confidence in the 5’s profitability. Expect starting prices around $100,000.
The Polestar 6 is the coupe sibling of the 5, similar to the relationship between the Polestar 3 and 4. We don’t know much about it, but we do know that the Polestar 6 is based on the “O2 Concept” of the company that is given the go-ahead for production. We also know it’ll feature the same powertrain as the 5, so expect 884 horsepower and at least a 300-mile range. It will be the company’s new flagship halo sports car and the company’s first convertible. Pricing should be similar to the Polestar 5, which means around $100,000 and an official launch by 2026. Demand for the 6 is already strong, as the 500 “LA Concept” editions have already sold out, years before the official release. Expect Polestar to continue to disrupt and change the automotive industry over the next decade. With such a clear and sustainable vision as well as beautiful cars being made, Polestar looks like it could be a major player in the world of luxury electric vehicles.
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