Polestar 7 SUV to be produced at Volvo factory in Slovakia
Polestar has confirmed that its upcoming Polestar 7 compact SUV will be manufactured at Volvo’s soon-to-be-opened factory in Kosice, Slovakia.
This tie-up will see the upcoming Polestar model use an existing “technology base” from Volvo, expected to be the same architecture underpinning the next-generation Volvo EX60.
That will see it adopt cell-to-body technologies with next-gen battery density and performance, plus e-motors shared with Volvo. However, these components will the be tweaked by Polestar to afford the 7 the brand’s signature driving feel.
The decision to produce the Polestar 7 at the Volvo Kosice plant was largely driven by Polestar’s drive to create a more global production presence, along with EU tariffs on cars made in China. Currently, the Polestar 2 and Polestar 4 are built by parent company Geely in China while the Polestar 3 is manufactured in the United States.
Prior to becoming its own all-electric performance brand in 2017, Polestar was the performance arm of Volvo; the Swedish brand’s answer to the Skoda vRS division or Audi’s S range of cars.
Regarding the reuinion between the two parties, Polestar CEO, Michael Lohscheller commented: “Working with Volvo to develop and manufacture the Polestar 7 in Europe is a unique opportunity that will strengthen our position in our home market.
“Our strategy of utilising Group architectures as the base for our future model line-up gives us access to the best, latest technologies, in a cost-efficient manner. With a design and sporty driving characteristics that are instantly recognisable, Polestar 7 will set new standards in the premium compact SUV segment.”
Volvo’s president and CEO, Håkan Samuelsson, echoed his Polestar counterpart’s sentiment, adding: “Our collaboration with Polestar on the development and manufacturing of the Polestar 7 underscores how Volvo Cars and Polestar continue to leverage synergies to efficiently deliver outstanding vehicles built for our distinct customer segments.”
Ahead of the Polestar 7’s arrival, Polestar is expected to launch its full-sized, Polestar 5 saloon in the second half of this year. Meanwhile, Volvo recently announced its all-electric EX60, which will arrive in early 2026.
Volvo began construction of its Kosice plant in 2023, and it is scheduled to begin manufacture of Volvo’s all-electric line-up in 2016. The Slovak Kosice factory will be Volvo’s third in Europe alongside Torslanda in Sweden, and Ghent in Belgium.
