Polestar 3 electric performance SUV to be manufactured in the USA
Polestar, the electric car brand from Sweden, has announced its first all-electric SUV will be manufactured in the United States.
The forthcoming Polestar 3, an aerodynamic electric performance SUV, will be manufactured 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.
Polestar has now secured industrial capacity in the two largest single markets for electric vehicles in the world – the USA and China – alongside its headquarters and established sales and distribution capabilities in Europe.
Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar’s chief executive officer, said: “Polestar 3 will be built in America, for our American customers. I remember the great response when I first shared Polestar’s vision here in the USA and 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.”
Polestar says this move underlines its commitment to the American retail market, which is undergoing a period of rapid expansion. The firm will open around 25 retail ‘Spaces’ 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.
Dennis Nobelius, chief operating officer at Polestar, said: “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. All of this makes the brand even more competitive in the critical American sales market.”
Polestar will debut the new generation of electric vehicle architecture from Volvo Car Group, which has been designed from scratch for full electrification. Production of Polestar 3 is expected to begin globally in 2022. Full product details will be made available at a later date.
The news of the expansion of Polestar’s manufacturing footprint follows the recent announcement that the company raised USD 550 million from a group of long-term external investors in April. The company has confirmed that it will explore potential future funding opportunities.
