Polestar to Utilize Former Saab Plant as European R&D Facility

Polestar is reportedly taking implicit Saab's defunct works successful Sweden to grow upon its European probe and improvement operations. The 15,000-square-meter building, located successful Trollhattan, is said to beryllium focusing connected the brand’s powertrain development.

Automobilwoche, and Western-counterpart Automotive News, reported that the tract volition archetypal effort to tackle the all-electric motors going into the Polestar 5 (a rival for the Tesla Model S) and the Polestar 6 roadster. The institution volition reportedly beryllium renting the installation from the metropolis of Trollhattan.

The tract was past utilized by National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) aft Saab folded successful 2011. Its program was to manufacture electrical vehicles based connected Saab’s 9-3 level by 2017 and had acquired the indispensable assets to execute this. Unfortunately, NEVS likewise collapsed aft Chinese genitor institution Evergrande was revealed to beryllium successful copious amounts of debt.

From Automotive News:

Polestar besides has R&D facilities successful Gothenburg, Sweden, which is astir 90 km southbound of Trollhattan, and successful Coventry, England. In England the automaker is processing its ain lightweight bonded-aluminum level that volition underpin Polestar 5 and Polestar 6.The Polestar 5, which volition besides vie against the Porsche Taycan, is scheduled to spell into accumulation successful 2024 astatine a works successful Chongqing, China. The Polestar 6 hardtop convertible volition besides beryllium built astatine the plant, apt starting successful 2025. The works is owned by Geely and operated by Polestar. Polestar's caller level has not been named yet.The cars volition stock an 800-volt electrical architecture that successful summation to providing astir 900 hp of powerfulness volition connection 900 newton meters of torque, 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) acceleration successful 3.2 seconds, a apical velocity of 250 kph (155 mph) and an estimated scope of much than 480 km (300 miles), the automaker said.

Despite technically being a Swedish automotive marque tied to Volvo Cars, some companies are presently subsidiaries of China’s Geely and Polestar accumulation takes spot successful Asia. When asked astir the anticipation of the Trollhattan tract being utilized to manufacture automobiles, the institution stated that it would proceed relying connected preexisting factories.

While the marque sells successful constricted quantities, targeting conscionable 80,000 units annually, it’ll inactive request to find abstraction astatine the different plants — galore of which already physique higher-volume products intended for different marquees and person further Polestar products connected the docket.

The mid-sized Polestar 2 is presently manufactured successful Luqiao, China, and shares the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) level utilized by a slew of vehicles wearing Lynk & Co, Geely, and Volvo emblems.

While the Polestar 3 and 4 haven’t yet gone connected sale, they’ll besides beryllium sharing space. The 3 is simply a ample SUV that utilizes the updated Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) level liable for immoderate of Volvo’s larger products built successful Chengdu, China, and Charleston, South Carolina.

Meanwhile, the Polestar 4 is expected to beryllium a “coupe-like” SUV underpinned by the Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) level designated for a slew of EVs from Volvo, Geely, Smart Automobile, Zeekr, and adjacent Lotus. The Polestar 5 is besides assumed to usage the SEA platform, resulting successful aboriginal rumors that it volition likewise beryllium assembled successful Hangzhou Bay, China. But that nary longer appears to beryllium the case.

In the interim, the Trollhattan installation volition beryllium liable for powertrain improvement and artillery investigating and Polestar's attempts to go profitable. While it has reduced its accumulation capableness aft failing to scope past year’s people volume, the institution inactive thinks it tin execute 290,000 planetary income by 2025 and go a money-maker by 2024.

[Image: Robert Way/Shutterstock]

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