Polestar’s American presence grew substantially in late April when the new Polestar 4 went on sale. The car can be bought online or in showrooms nationwide. It follows Polestar 4 launches in China, Europe, and Australia. The vehicle is listed at $54,900, and unfortunately, it doesn’t qualify for the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean vehicle tax credits.
The 4 was on display at the New York Auto Show in late March and early April, and orders for it opened shortly after. Company executives sound confident when describing the performance of the car.
“Polestar 4 confidently enters the premium performance class within the D-SUV segment. Our SUV coupe’s innovative design offers generous interior space and a stunning appearance,” Gregor Hembrough, head of Polestar North America, said in a press release. “Coupled with upcoming Polestar 3 deliveries this summer, we now offer two dynamic SUV options for North American customers.”
The range on the long-range single-motor with rear-wheel drive model is around 300 miles with a 272-hp motor inside, and the cost starts at about $55,000.
The long-range version with a dual motor and all-wheel drive (AWD) drops the range to 270 miles but has 544 hp. The AWD model is also pricier, costing around $63,000–$73,000. The company says it can hit 60 mph in 3.7 seconds.
Other features include 20-inch Aero alloy wheels, a panoramic glass roof, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree parking camera with a 3D view. The car also has an energy-saving heat pump, wireless phone charging, an eight-way electrical driver seat, and a six-way electrical passenger seat.
The long-range dual-motor model comes with Polestar’s Pilot Pack, its driver-assistance programs. The Plus Pack has a graphical head-up display, auto-dimmed exterior mirrors, 12-way electrical seats, reclining rear seats, three-zone climate control, Harman Kardon sound system, heated seats, and entertainment screens.
Photo Courtesy Polestar
Polestar is also entering new ventures outside luxury electric vehicles (EVs). The company announced it’s selling a smartphone in China in addition to its cars. The phone is being built by Chinese mobile phone manufacturer Xingji Meizu Group, owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding, the conglomerate that owns Polestar and its parent company, Volvo. It is currently only available in China, but it likely will never be on sale in the U.S.
The phone’s price starts at just above $1,000, about as much as the latest high-end smartphones. It will run on a special software called Flyme Auto, which connects seamlessly to Polestar’s infotainment system.
This feature is similar to Apple CarPlay and iPhone pairing in American cars. Geely is following a trend of its national competitors — car producer Nio Inc. making smartphones and smartphone makers Huawei and Xiaomi developing EVs.
After years of being assembled in China — much of the Polestar lineup, especially the popular 3 model — Polestar is building the 4 in Busan, South Korea. The company also has a South Carolina-based plant producing some for North America.
The decision to build the 4 in Korea may have geopolitical implications amid trade tensions between China and the U.S. The South Korean plant is a Renault facility, and Polestar has a contract manufacturing agreement for production, which is expected to start in 2025.
Photo Courtesy Polestar
In January 2024, Polestar reported its fourth quarter (Q4) 2023 global deliveries. It said it delivered 12,800 in Q4, bringing its 2023 total to 54,600 cars worldwide, a 6% year-to-year increase. Company leaders believe the pre-order for the 4 generated a lot of buzz especially as they went on sale in China in late 2023.
Comments online show a breath of excitement among EV enthusiasts. In Electrek’s coverage, the top-voted comment expressed jubilation at the 4’s launch in America. “Really excited to see the 4 in person and test drive,” commented user CCATX. “My heart is telling me to place my order now, but my brain is telling me to just relax and be patient.”
