Thomas Ingenlath, the CEO of Swedish electric automaker Polestar, says his company’s next electric cars, the Polestar 3 and the Polestar 4, will go head to head with popular Porsche models the Cayenne and Macan.
Speaking at the Automotive News Europe Congress in Prague, Ingenlath said the company is aiming to price the upcoming Polestar 3, an electric SUV due to be unveiled in October, at roughly between $US75,000 and $US110,000, or around $A110,000 to $A162,000.
Currently, the Porsche Cayenne in Australia sells from $121,300 and up to $352,700, excluding on-road costs, which lines up with Ingenlath’s prediction that the Polestar 3 will range in price from between $US75,000 and $US110,000, which converts to around $A110,000 to $A162,000.
“It’s an SUV, which everyone loves, but it’s also very aerodynamic and very engaging to drive,” Ingenlath said.
“It’s not a car to drive to the kindergarten.”
Polestar has said that it is hoping to sell 24,000 Polestar 3s globally in 2023, increasing to 67,000 in 2024 and 77,000 in 2025. It is due to arrive in Australia in 2023.
Ingenlath also confirmed that the Polestar 4, which is due in 2023, will be a rival to the Porsche Macan, while the Polestar 5 sedan – which we caught glimpses of last month – is scheduled to launch in 2024.
Speaking separately to Car Magazine, Ingenlath doubled down on his company’s plan that the Polestar 4 will target the Porsche Macan, and hinted at pricing starting from €55,000, or around $A81,500. The Porsche Macan is available in Australia priced from $A84,800 to $A138,100.
“We have a second SUV in our pipeline,” Ingenlath said. “It will compete below the Polestar 3’s €75,000 sector, it is slightly smaller. It will not compromise on the interior length, but this car is slightly more ground-hugging, a bit more of the coupe-type roofline.
“The Polestar 4 really brings the greatness of the brand to a segment that will, eventually, start around €55,000, where we in some point in time want to reach with the Polestar 4. This is the [price] spectrum we will cover with these two cars.”
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.