Medium-sized Polestar 7 teased, will be made in Europe

16 January 2025

The Sweden-based and China-owned electric car manufacturer Polestar teased a new addition to its lineup. The Polestar 7 is going to be a premium SUV designed to compete directly with the Range Rover Evoque. This new model will be the company's first to be produced in Europe.

The Polestar 7 is expected to launch in 2027 and will effectively succeed the Polestar 2 liftback. While not a direct replacement, the 7 will adopt a more traditional SUV form factor, giving in to the ever-growing demand for electric SUVs. Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller emphasized the importance of this segment, calling it the "biggest and fastest growing" in the EV market.

The unique design is a key differentiator for every Polestar, and the 7 will be no different. Philipp Römers, Polestar's Head of Design, confirmed that the 7 will carry the brand's distinctive design language. While there are no details available, Römers hinted at a unique selling point that will set the 7 apart from its competitors.

The production location of the Polestar 7 hasn't been confirmed, but a Geely plant currently under construction in Slovakia is an obvious choice. Geely is the parent company of both Polestar and Volvo. Officially, the shift towards European production has all to do with Polestar's strategy to diversify its manufacturing footprint. In reality, the company simply wants to bypass the EU tariffs that apply to Chinese-made EVs.

Lohscheller, who took over as CEO in 2024, has outlined a revised business strategy focused on operational efficiency and financial performance. He highlighted the success of the recently launched Polestar 3 and Polestar 4, which accounted for over half of the company's orders in the final quarter of 2024. These models, together with the upcoming Polestar 5 GT and the limited-production Polestar 6 roadster, should help to drive sales growth.

Apart from expanding its EV portfolio, Polestar is also ramping up its retail operations. The company wants to increase its global network of showrooms by 75% by the end of 2026. This expansion will include a significant push into the European market, with 130 locations planned across the continent.

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