Polestar, the electric car brand owned by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group that also owns Volvo and Lotus, has had an amazing 2020 in its first fully operational year. Highlights range from critical acclaim for Polestar 2 to the roll-out of the brand’s retail strategy across ten global launch markets, all against the backdrop of a global pandemic.
The response to the Polestar 2 has been positive around the globe with the car winning over 30 awards across its launch markets in 2020. This includes coveted titles such as Germany’s Golden Steering Wheel along with Car of the Year titles in Norway, Switzerland, Germany and China.
Supporting the brand’s already digital buying experience, Polestar’s global retail footprint expanded dramatically. Following the world’s first Polestar Spaces that opened in October 2019 in Beijing and Oslo, 2020 saw the opening of another 40 Spaces globally.
Polestar Spaces change the face of automotive retail, allowing consumers to interact with non-commissioned Polestar specialists. These are often based in retail shopping centres, in a similar style to Apple and Tesla.
Polestar takes sustainability seriously and encourages discussion in the automotive sector, driving for more action and more transparency. In September, Polestar published the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for Polestar 2. The report revealed the carbon impact of the electric performance fastback over its entire life cycle, and by also sharing the methodology behind the report, it raises the bar for what should be acceptable in the industry.
Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO, said: “Despite the challenges presented by 2020, Polestar has gained real momentum this year. I want to recognise the incredible effort made by the Polestar team and our partners globally to bring our brand, Red Dot’s brand of the year, to customers globally.”
“As 2020 draws to a close, deliveries of Polestar cars continue, more Spaces are opening and new employees are joining the company with the passion and enthusiasm required to effect change in a very traditional industry”
