Cars & Concepts

Volvo's Polestar refines its strategy as first product nears

Polestar 1 at Goodwood
August 13, 2018 05:00 AM

Polestar, Volvo Cars' performance brand, is preparing for the launch of its first product, the Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid coupe, by refining its marketing plans and counting potential customers.

The Polestar 1, positioned as a low-volume halo car, has over 5,000 hand-raisers in the U.S., and 200 have put down deposits. The company plans to produce 500 vehicles a year over three years, but it may expand that based on customer interest.

Future Product: Jaguar and Land Rover timeline Future Product: Volvo and Polestar timeline Future Product Pipeline

The company also has plans for a volume electric sedan and electric SUV.

Polestar 1: The 600-hp plug-in hybrid coupe has a 93-mile electric-only range, and pricing is expected to start at $155,000. It will roll off the line at the company's Chengdu, China, plant in mid-2019, with U.S. deliveries following shortly.

Polestar 2: The battery-electric sedan will be the first volume model for the brand, with 400 hp and an estimated range of 350 miles. The car will be based on Polestar's compact modular platform, the same platform underpinning the Volvo XC40 crossover.

It will be shown ahead of the 2019 Geneva auto show and is expected to arrive at dealerships in late 2019 or early 2020.

Polestar 3: The company is developing an all-electric SUV. Executives hope it will debut in 2020, but that could change based on reception of the Polestar 1 and 2.

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