Volvo and Geely’s performance EV brand, Polestar, has just announced the commencement of production for the Polestar 2 at Luqiao, China, despite the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic.
The Luqiao plant is owned by parent company Geely and operated by Volvo Cars. Polestar says that the plant is an example of how the newly-formed brand can leverage the expertise of its parent companies.
Polestar Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Ingenlath commented, “Being able to produce in Luqiao means we are able to bring Polestar 2 to market with high build and quality standards right from the beginning.”
Ingenlath also commented on the difficulty of starting production under the current circumstances. “This is a great achievement and the result of huge efforts from the staff in the factory and the team securing the supply chain. I have a huge amount of respect for the entire team – thanks to them!”
Despite the commencement of production, Ingenlath clarifies that the health and safety of the staff will still be prioritised.
The Polestar 2 will also be the first electric vehicle to be produced at the Luqiao plant. First introduced in February 2019, the fastback EV is powered by two electric motors, generating a combined output of 408 hp and 660 Nm of torque.
Packed with a 78 kWh battery, the Polestar 2 is rated for a range of 470 km on the WLTP test suite. Polestar 2 is also the first car to feature an Android-powered in-car infotainment system.
Deliveries of the Polestar 2 is scheduled to begin in the summer this year, starting from Europe, followed by China and North America.
