Polestar bets on pair of performance crossovers to drive U.S. sales

Polestar's U.S. lineup is tripling in size this year with the addition of two premium crossovers.

The new arrivals roll into stores as sales growth of battery-powered vehicles downshifts from a once breakneck pace.

Meanwhile, demand for the Polestar 2 is under pressure from legacy automakers with more competitive models on price and features. The sedan's sales slumped 41 percent in the first half of 2024, according to Automotive News Research & Data Center estimates.

But the Scandinavian brand's executives are optimistic the crossovers will drive consumer buzz and foot traffic into Polestar's swanky showrooms.

The first of those crossovers, the Polestar 3, has arrived after a yearlong delay because of software issues related to a new platform it shares with the Volvo EX90.

Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath thinks the Polestar 3 will grab share from Porsche's gasoline-powered Cayenne flagship.

"If you put a Polestar 3 next to a Porsche Cayenne, it doesn't matter that one is an EV and one is a combustion car," Ingenlath said in June. "I think our car can offer an alternative for somebody who will be drawn in by the Polestar 3's looks, tech and performance."

The coupe-like Polestar 4 crossover — billed as the brand's fastest production model — is built at Geely's factory in Cixi, China, and could initially face a 102 percent U.S. import tariff levied on Chinese EVs. In the second half of 2025, production will expand to Busan, South Korea, as part of a contract manufacturing agreement among Polestar, Geely and Renault Korea Motors.

Former Polestar North America boss Gregor Hembrough told Automotive News in May that U.S. deliveries will begin this year, regardless of where the vehicle is manufactured.

Polestar 3: The dual-motor midsize crossover goes up to 315 miles on a charge. The Polestar 3, with up to 517 hp, offers a crossover's higher riding position in a low-to-the-ground package designed to maximize aerodynamics. It is Polestar's first U.S.-built model and arrived in the summer.

Polestar 4: The coupe-styled crossover rides on a version of Geely's Sustainable Experience Architecture for larger cars and is the first Polestar with a 15.4-inch landscape-oriented center display screen. Offered with single or dual motors, the Polestar 4 generates up to 544 hp and sprints to 62 miles from a standstill in 3.8 seconds.

The Porsche Macan competitor debuts a unique design that ditches the rear window. Instead, a high-definition screen shows a real-time feed from a roof-mounted, rear-facing camera. It is expected to arrive at U.S. stores in the fourth quarter.

Polestar 5: The Porsche Taycan fighter is planned for the second half of 2025. But import tariffs could delay the Chinese-made performance sedan's entry into the U.S.

A development prototype featured a dual-motor 884-hp powertrain. The six-figure Polestar 5 will debut a bonded aluminum platform

that delivers a stiffer chassis, enabling tight body control, high rigidity and improved driving dynamics.

Polestar 2: For 2024, the single-motor Polestar 2 variant shifts from front- to rear-wheel drive. A new motor produces 299 hp, 68 more than the previous model. The car promises 320 miles of driving range. An all-wheel-drive variant with a rear-drive bias produces 421 hp and delivers up to 276 miles of driving range.

A redesign is expected in the first half of 2027, when it will be rebadged as the Polestar 7.

Polestar 6: The halo model is planned for 2026. The 884-hp Polestar 6 will be the automaker's most powerful and expensive model. It will share the Polestar 5's lightweight bonded aluminum platform and an 800-volt electric architecture.

The Polestar 6 is based on the O2 Concept, which sits low and wide and features short front and rear overhangs, a compact 2+2 cabin design and a long wheelbase.

A track-tuned concept debuted at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed in the United Kingdom. It featured muscular flared arches, a racy rear wing and 22-inch forged alloy wheels.