Volvo spin-off unveils competitor Tesla Model 3

The base price of Polestar 2 will be around 40,000 euros, or about 45,000 dollars. That's about the starting price of a Tesla Model 3 today. Like Tesla, Polestar will first produce more expensive versions of his car. The launch edition of the Polestar 2, which will be carried out during the first 12 months of production, will cost around 60,000 euros, the equivalent of about $ 68,000.

Production will begin in early 2020 in China, home of the Geely Holding Group, Volvo's parent company and co-owner of Polestar.

The all-wheel-drive four-wheel drive will have two electric motors with an expected range of 500 kilometers with a full battery based on European and Chinese standard driving tests or 275 miles on US EPA driving tests. The company promises acceleration from zero to 60 in less than five seconds. An optional performance package will provide the car with shock absorbers, brakes and optimized tires for improved maneuverability.

Like Tesla's cars, the Polestar has "vegan" interior materials, rather than leather. Drivers will be able to use their smart phones as a remote keychain, another feature of Tesla cars. An optional driver package will provide the car with automated driving assistance features, such as lane-keeping assistance (which keeps the car in its lane) and the ability to park without a driver in the car. car, said a spokesman for Polestar.

Although the car is available for purchase, the company will largely market a subscription plan in which drivers will pay a monthly fee that includes insurance fees and the cost of the car itself in a single payment. monthly. The rates for the subscription service have not yet been set, said a spokesman for Polestar. The cars will also be available for sale for customers who would simply prefer to buy one. The Polestar 2 will only be sold online by Polestar.com.

The Polestar 1, the first car of the brand, is a hybrid plug-in high performance produced in limited numbers. The Polestar 3, which has yet to be unveiled, will be an all-electric SUV, the company said.

Polestar was originally the name of a Swedish company, Polestar Performance, which created Volvo car racing versions. Volvo bought this company in 2015 and added its name to the versions of its own performance-oriented cars. The name Polestar will still be used on Hybrid and electric cars with optimized performance, in addition to being its own car brand.