Polestar 2 staying in fight against Tesla Model 3 with second generation

The Polestar 2 will be renewed in due course, rather than being replaced by the all-new Polestar 7, according to the head of the Chinese-Swedish electric vehicle (EV) specialist.

Former Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath previously said the mid-sized electric liftback – the Geely-controlled EV brand’s direct competitor for the top-selling Tesla Model 3 – would effectively be replaced by the Polestar 7 compact SUV in 2027.

However, in an interview with Autocar, new Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller said the Polestar 2 will get its own direct successor towards the end of this decade.

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The news confirms that Polestar – the sister brand to Volvo, Zeekr, Smart, Lotus, Proton and others in the Geely Auto group – will have a five-car model range in future.

This will include the pioneering Polestar 2 fastback, the newly arrived Polestar 4 medium SUV and Polestar 3 large SUV, the Polestar 5 grand tourer (due to arrive this year), the aforementioned Polestar 7 and the Polestar 6 sports car, now understood to be the last to launch.

Mr Lohscheller said the current Polestar 2 has “years to go” and confirmed its replacement will be the second model after the 7 to be based on a single vehicle architecture that will form the basis of every new Polestar model in future.

He did not specify what that platform will be, nor where the Polestar 7 will be built in Europe.

However, Polestar’s first European-made model is expected to be underpinned by the same Geely SEA platform as the larger Polestar 4, as well as the Volvo EX30, Smart #1/#3 and Zeekr X. It’s possible the Polestar 2 will be produced at Geely’s new plant in Slovakia.

All Polestar models including the 2 are currently produced in China, however the Polestar 3 will also be produced in the US, the Polestar 4 will also be made in South Korea, and the Polestar 7 will be the company’s first European-manufactured model.

While the Polestar 4 is the brand’s answer to the Tesla Model Y, the Polestar 7 will rival the likes of the BMW iX1/iX2, Lexus UX300e, Mercedes-Benz EQA, and the Mini Aceman and Countryman E.

Mr Lohscheller, who replaced Mr Ingenlath in August 2024, said the existing Polestar 2 was his personal favourite model because of its timeless design, and the fact it was integral in Polestar selling about 170,000 vehicles globally since it was established in 2020.

Polestar sold 1459 examples of the 2 in Australia last year – down more than 40 per cent on the 2457 that found homes here in 2023.

This was despite an extensive upgrade (which included an extended driving range and enhanced equipment levels in Australia) and several price cuts amid increased competition, not only from rival brands but also the Model Y-challenging Polestar 4.

Mr Lohscheller told Autocar that last year’s Polestar 2 upgrade was so significant that other carmakers would have labelled it a new model.

He said the company is targeting a global sales volume lift of between 30 and 35 per cent every year over the next three years.

“This is an ambitious target but we are not dreaming,” Mr Lohscheller told Autocar. “We now have three good cars in our showrooms and orders for the first quarter are up 37 per cent. Even better, 55 per cent of those orders are for our two newest cars, Polestar 3 and 4.”

MORE: Polestar enters another state in Australian retail expansionMORE: New Polestar 7 will be a sleeker Volvo EX30 built in EuropeMORE: Polestar Australia expecting better fortunes in 2025