Located in South Carolina, the new production facility is a significant addition to Polestar's manufacturing capabilities, complementing their existing operations in Chengdu, China.
Through this expansion, Polestar intends to simplify logistics for delivering vehicles across North America and Europe. Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar, stated, "Manufacturing Polestar 3 in the USA is a crucial step for us. Now we offer customers in America an electric SUV that is built in America. Exporting the South Carolina produced Polestar 3 to Europe will strengthen our business on a broader scope."
The 3 is based on the SPA2 architecture along with the Volvo EX90. The Polestar 3 was originally scheduled to debut nearly a year ago, but software development problems at Volvo delayed both the Polestar and the EX90. The EX90 started production in Charleston in June this year and will go on sale in the coming weeks, and now the Polestar 3 has also moved from pre-production to full production.
Unlike the more upright, three-row Volvo, the 3 is a two-row five-seater that is both shorter and lower and has a more distinctly sporty flavor to it. The first 3s actually rolled off the assembly line at a Geely plant in Chengdu, China a few months ago, but most of them are being sold locally and exported to Europe. Some were also brought to the US before the increased 100% tariff on Chinese-built EVs went into effect. Going forward, all Polestar 3s for this market will be sourced from South Carolina, along with the EX90.
Amplifying its commitment to global expansion, Polestar has announced plans to initiate production of their upcoming model, the Polestar 4, in South Korea by mid-2025. This aligns with their asset-light business strategy which leverages partnerships and scalability offered by stakeholders for more efficient development and manufacturing processes.
Source: Polestar
