The Swedish automaker is preparing for the production of the Polestar 3
With the Polestar 3 set to join the electric car maker’s ranks starting next year, joint owner Volvo Cars has announced that it will invest an additional $118 million (RM488 million) into its Ridgeville, South Carolina plant, where the “aerodynamic electric performance SUV” will be produced alongside the S60 sedan.
Unlike the Polestar 1 and Polestar 2, which are currently produced in China, Polestar’s third model will be built in the United States. Chief Operating Officer Dennis Nobelius said the move will shorten delivery times for its American customers and allow the company to price the vehicle competitively.
Without going into too much detail, Polestar said that the Polestar 3 will be built on Volvo’s newly developed dedicated EV platform. The SUV will also come with connectivity features based on Google’s native Android Automotive OS infotainment system, as well as high-end, safety-focused autonomous driving features.
PRESS RELEASE
Volvo Cars will invest an additional $118 million into its Ridgeville, South Carolina plant to build the Polestar 3 on the Volvo Car Group’s next generation electric architecture, under contract for its affiliate, Polestar Cars. Polestar is the Swedish electric performance brand launched by Volvo Cars and Geely Holding in 2017.
The Ridgeville plant currently produces the Volvo S60 luxury sedan for U.S. and export markets. The fully electric Polestar 3 will join the S60 and the next generation of electrified Volvo cars coming out of the same facility.
“Our South Carolina team has done a remarkable job producing the award-winning S60 and readying the plant for the next generation of electrified Volvo cars,” said Javier Varela, Senior Vice President Industrial Operations & Quality, Volvo Car Group. “Now, with the contract to produce the fully electric Polestar 3, we continue to expand our manufacturing operations for electrified vehicles.”
“We are proud to bring these new growth opportunities to Ridgeville and continue to grow our presence in the United States,” said Anders Gustafsson, Senior Vice President, Volvo Car Americas and President and CEO, Volvo Car USA.
The global transformation for Volvo Cars continues with today’s announcement, signifying a cumulative investment of over $1.2 billion into the South Carolina operation with room for future growth. In addition to its manufacturing footprint, Volvo Cars continues to invest heavily in technology and design and its Americas Region sales operation, including employee training and development.
