who makes polestar cars

When you see a Polestar gliding silently down the road, its sleek Scandinavian design is hard to miss. It feels fresh, modern, and distinctly different from other electric vehicles. This uniqueness naturally leads to a very common question for anyone intrigued by the brand: just who makes Polestar cars? The answer is a fascinating story of automotive evolution, blending established heritage with a bold, independent vision for the future of driving.

The Partnership Behind the Brand

So, who makes Polestar cars? The straightforward answer is that Polestar is a Swedish electric performance car brand jointly owned by two automotive giants: Volvo Cars and its parent company, Geely Holding Group from China. This powerful partnership provides Polestar with a robust foundation. It draws on Volvo’s renowned reputation for safety, quality, and Scandinavian design principles, while Geely contributes significant resources, manufacturing expertise, and global scale. This collaboration allows Polestar to operate with a unique blend of European design ethos and cutting-edge production capability.

From Volvo’s High-Performance Wing to a Standalone EV Maker

Polestar’s origin story is key to understanding its identity. It didn’t start as a separate company. Initially, Polestar was the name for Volvo’s in-house high-performance tuning division, much like how AMG began with Mercedes-Benz. They were the experts who made fast Volvos even faster. In 2017, the brand was reimagined and spun off as a dedicated electric car company, marking a decisive shift from enhancing combustion engines to creating a new generation of pure electric vehicles.

Where Polestar Vehicles Come to Life

Today, Polestar cars are manufactured in state-of-the-art facilities in China. For some, this might be a surprise, but it’s a testament to the global nature of the modern auto industry. The primary production plant is in Luqiao, which is operated by Geely. This facility is shared with Volvo, ensuring that the build quality and standards meet the high bar set by its Swedish co-owner. By leveraging Geely’s advanced manufacturing infrastructure, Polestar can focus its resources on what it does best: design, engineering, and innovation.

A Distinct Identity in a Crowded Market

Despite its deep ties to Volvo and Geely, Polestar is very much its own entity. It has its own dedicated design team, CEO, and business strategy. The goal is not to be a “Volvo EV” but to be “Polestar”—a brand defined by its own values of purity, minimalism, and progressive performance. This independent spirit is clear in everything from the user interface in its cars to its direct-to-consumer sales model.

In essence, Polestar is a unique blend of Swedish heritage and global manufacturing might. It’s a brand built on a legacy of performance but racing decisively toward an all-electric future, backed by the experience and resources of two of the world’s most significant automotive players.