South Carolina Plant Begins Production for U.S. and European Markets
Polestar has officially commenced production of its Polestar 3 electric SUV at the Volvo-operated facility in Ridgeville, South Carolina. This marks the first time a Polestar vehicle is being manufactured on two continents, with the U.S. plant supplementing the existing production line in Chengdu, China, which began in February 2024. The decision to produce in the U.S. was part of long-term planning and is not a response to the European Union’s tariffs on electric car imports from China.
Polestar 3 Shares Platform with Volvo EX90
The Ridgeville plant, where Volvo also produces the EX90 electric SUV, has been retooled to accommodate the Polestar 3. Sharing much of its platform and technology with the EX90, the Polestar 3 production is a strategic move to cater to the growing demand in both the U.S. and Europe. The Polestar 3, which debuted in October 2022, faced production delays due to software issues, pushing its start date from mid-2023 to February 2024 in Chengdu.
Expanding Global Manufacturing Footprint
Polestar is not only focused on its U.S. operations but also continues to broaden its global manufacturing presence. From mid-2025, the Polestar 4 crossover will be produced in South Korea at Renault Korea Motors in Busan. Meanwhile, the company has also strengthened its roots in China with the opening of Polestar Technology’s headquarters in Nanjing, where it will develop operating systems and in-car software tailored for the Chinese market.
Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath emphasized the significance of U.S. production, stating, “Manufacturing Polestar 3 in the USA is a crucial step for us. Now we offer customers in America an electric SUV that is built in America.” He also highlighted that exporting the South Carolina-built Polestar 3 to Europe would further enhance the company’s global reach.
