GOTHENBURG: Swedish EV maker Polestar announced today its first all-electric SUV will be manufactured in the United States.
The forthcoming Polestar 3, an aerodynamic electric performance SUV, will be produced alongside new Volvo vehicles at the Volvo Cars production centre in Ridgeville, South Carolina. Polestar vehicles built in South Carolina will be for sale in the United States.
The aerodynamic electric performance SUV will feature industry-leading connectivity features based on Google's native Android Automotive OS infotainment system, as well as high-end, safety-focused autonomous driving features.
Production of Polestar 3 is expected to begin globally in 2022. Full product details will be made available at a later date.
The move transforms Polestar into a truly global brand with an industrial capacity in the two largest single markets for electric vehicles in the world — the US and China — alongside its headquarters and established sales and distribution capabilities in Europe.
The announcement also underlines Polestar's commitment to the American retail market, which is undergoing a period of rapid expansion. Polestar will open around 25 retail "Spaces" stores across the country in 2021. The Spaces offer customer conveniences such as home test drives, free pick-up and delivery servicing, and mobile service for consumers in markets still awaiting the opening of a Polestar Space.
Polestar was launched in 2017 by Volvo Cars and Geely Holding. The Ridgeville plant was opened in 2018 by Volvo Cars. Polestar's ability to share a production facility with Volvo Cars highlights the significant industrial and financial synergies it generates as result of its ownership structure.
"Production in the USA reduces delivery times as well as the environmental impact associated with shipping vehicles around the world. It will even have a positive impact on the price of Polestar 3," said Polestar chief operating officer Dennis Nobelius.
"All of this makes the brand even more competitive in the critical American sales market."
