23 hours ago
7
A Volvo, BMW, and Mini-rivalling electric small SUV from Polestar will become its first vehicle manufactured in Europe – not China, South Korea, or the US – and will debut a new modular architecture.
Electric Cars
Polestar has confirmed the first details of its next model ahead of its expected launch in 2027.
Announced as a “premium compact SUV” likely to be similar in size to a Volvo EX30, BMW iX1 and Mini Aceman, the 2027 Polestar 7 will be manufactured in Europe – not China, South Korea or the US – and debut a new modular electric-car architecture.
It will become the first vehicle from the electric car specialist built in the continent, as the brand faces increased tariffs on Chinese-built vehicles sold in the United States and Europe, primarily affecting the Polestar 2 sedan.
While the Polestar 4 electric car is built in China for most regions – including Europe and Australia – it will also be manufactured in South Korea at a joint Geely and Renault factory for the United States and its domestic market to avoid significant tariffs imposed by the US government.
Likewise, the Polestar 3 is built in the United States for the North American market alongside the related Volvo EX90 to avoid tariffs on Chinese-built vehicles – but it is sourced from China elsewhere.
Polestar has announced the 7 will be its first model on a newly-developed architecture intended to eventually be shared across most of its line-up to reduce “complexity, costs and investments”.
“Over time, from Polestar 7 onwards, the Company will gradually move from a multi-platform approach to one single architecture,” Polestar said in a media release.
Current Polestar models use different platforms: Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) for the Polestar 2, Scalable Product Architecture 2 (SPA2) for the Polestar 3, Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) for the Polestar 4, and a bespoke bonded aluminium platform for the upcoming Polestar 5 and Polestar 6.
The CMA and SPA2 platforms are shared with Volvo electric cars, while SEA is used in vehicles across the wider Geely group, including Volvo, Zeekr and Lynk & Co models.
It is unclear if the modular architecture set to debut in the Polestar 7 will be exclusive to the brand or if it will be shared with vehicles from its Geely parent.
A two-door version of the 5, the Polestar 6 roadster, will follow in 2026 with both vehicles confirmed for an Australian launch.
Polestar said it expects its retail sales volume to grow between 30 and 35 per cent between 2025 and 2027 with the introduction of the new models, along a 75 per cent increase in physical showrooms – mostly in Europe and North America – and market launches in more countries.
Its direct-to-consumer online sales channel will continue, the brand said.
In Australia, Polestar has announced the addition of traditional “retail-centric” locations to allow customers to purchase its vehicles in-person rather than through an online portal – however it will continue under an ‘agency’ sales model with fixed, non-negotiable pricing.
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Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
