Plans To Assemble Polestar 7 In Slovakia Possible

Volvo plans to assemble the Polestar 7 in Slovakia. If all goes well, that is. See the fine print at the end of this story.

Historically, Polestar’s manufacturing footprint has been predominantly centered in China after the Geely takeover of Volvo.

The reason is simple. Polestar was the performance tuning division of Volvo, mostly designed and engineered in Gothenburg, Sweden. After the takeover, Polestar maintained its image in the interest of scale, and it was mostly manufactured in China.

Polestar never became popular in China. It sold only over 3,000 units last year. Globally, however, it has sold and delivered nearly 88,000 cars. Not bad for what is perceived to be a “specialty” vehicle.

Polestar exists alongside other Geely brands, including Lotus, Zeekr, Smart, and Proton.

Production Places

The Polestar 1 hybrid sports coupe was meticulously crafted at a dedicated Polestar Production Centre in Chengdu, China. Then, the fully electric Polestar 2 began its journey at Volvo Cars’ Luqiao CMA Super Factory, also in China.

Polestar’s international interests, starting with a foray into the US, has also diversified its global production strategy. The Polestar 3 SUV, while initially produced in China, is now also manufactured at Volvo’s facility in Ridgeville, South Carolina, catering to the North American market.

The Polestar 4 coupe SUV will see production not only in China but also in Busan, South Korea, through a partnership with Renault Korea Motors. Then there are the two concept cars ready for production: the four-door Polestar 5 grand touring sedan called the Precept concept car. It is designed to be a sporty luxury EV to rival the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S. We are still waiting to see the launch this year which will feature a dual-motor powertrain delivering significant horsepower (around 870 hp) and will utilize an 800-volt architecture for fast charging. The car will be also be made in China and the US.

The Polestar 6 is an upcoming electric two-seater roadster that is the production version of the stunning “O2” concept car unveiled in 2022. Designed to be the halo car for the brand, it is expected to begin production in 2026. Reports suggest it might be slightly delayed as Polestar prioritizes higher-volume models like the Polestar 7 SUV which will be made in Slovakia and launched in 2028.

The compact Polestar 7 SUV is expected to embody Polestar’s signature design and performance attributes while leveraging a shared technological foundation with two forthcoming Volvo models, including the Volvo EX60.

That’s Right, Slovakia

If all goes well with handshakes and plans, the Polestar 7 EV will be made on the Kosice assembly line, in Slovakia. But why Slovakia?

Slovakia is a significant automotive manufacturing hub in Europe, where major carmakers like Volkswagen, Stellantis, Kia, and Jaguar Land Rover are also located. This means there’s a well-established automotive supply chain and a skilled workforce.

The Kosice plant is currently under construction. Construction began in 2023, and as of July 2024, the initial phase of construction (including the press shop, body shop, paint shop, foundry, and other essential buildings) was 60% finalized. Production of electric cars is scheduled to start in 2026, with the launch of the Polestar 7 planned for 2028.

But before the Polestar 7, the Kosice plant is assigned to put together a yet to be announced, next-generation Volvo model.

This will be Volvo Cars’ third manufacturing facility in Europe. Volvo said the plant will create a “European triangle of manufacturing” complementing the Ghent plant in Belgium (in western Europe) and the Torslanda plant in Sweden (in the north). Designed to be climate-neutral and exclusively produce electric cars, it aligns with Volvo Cars’ ambitious goal of becoming a fully electric carmaker and achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

It is expected to cost €1.2 billion and at its peak will produce up to 250,000 cars per year and will provide several thousand new jobs in the region.

Strategic Manufacturing In Kosice

“Our collaboration with Polestar on the development and manufacturing of the Polestar 7 underscores how Volvo Cars and Polestar continue to leverage synergies to efficiently deliver outstanding cars built for our distinct customer segments,” Håkan Samuelsson, President and CEO for Volvo Cars, emphasized the synergistic nature of the collaboration in a post-briefing press statement.

This shared approach extends to key components like mega casting and cell-to-body technology, aiming for enhanced battery density and performance. The Polestar 7 will also incorporate Volvo Cars’ next-generation in-house developed e-motors. This strategy emphasizes economies of scale, driving efficiency and cost benefits across the group.

From a software base, the Polestar 7 will benefit from Volvo Cars’ “Superset tech stack,” sharing the operating system base, core system, and cloud infrastructure with models such as the Volvo EX90, Volvo ES90, Volvo EX60, and Polestar 3. This interconnectedness allows for continuous improvements and feature growth across the entire lineup through over-the-air updates.

The strategic placement of the Kosice plant in Slovakia will establish a “European triangle” of manufacturing for Volvo Cars, complementing its existing facilities in Ghent, Belgium (western Europe), and Torslanda, Sweden (northern Europe).

This new plant represents an investment of approximately and is poised to benefit from Slovakia’s well-established automotive supply chain. With a potential production capacity of up to 250,000 cars annually, the Kosice facility is expected to create several thousand new jobs in the region.

The Fine Print

Everything you read at the of the writing of this report is true and accurate. However, Volvo Cars’ and Polestar’s non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) only reflects the mutual intent to explore and pursue a potential collaboration. Volvo’s statement warns that “the execution and implementation of the collaboration described herein remain subject to negotiation and finalization of definitive agreements between both parties.”