Though Polestar is a young brand, its electric-only fleet has quickly disrupted Europe’s legacy, fossil-dominated automotive landscape. What do you see as the ethical responsibility of Polestar and other carmakers today?
Polestar is very much a child of its time. When it was founded in 2017, it was built on the recognition that the automotive industry needed to change, given that it accounts for roughly 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. We had the clear technological solution—the electric vehicle—and our mission has been to accelerate that transition. At the core of Polestar’s identity is performance and design. We are part of a bigger culture shift towards beautiful, innovative performance cars that represent sustainable development.
But electrification is just the beginning. Beyond just making EVs, we are focused on redefining how cars are produced and used, by advocating for supply chain transparency, decarbonizing materials, and promoting human rights and circularity.
You say electrification is only the beginning. We know EVs have lower overall carbon emissions than their legacy counterparts because they are not driven by fossil fuel combustion - but they still have a carbon footprint, which is often touted by EV detractors. Where do emissions come from in EVs?
If you look at a car’s carbon footprint, the major emissions come from production – especially battery production, steel, aluminum, and electronics – followed by the energy used to drive it, and then logistics emissions, which are relatively minor by comparison.
How is Polestar cutting production and logistics emissions?
Measures like renewable energy in battery production and sourcing aluminum from low-emission smelters help us hit the strict carbon budgets we set for our programs. Our target is to be carbon neutral by 2040 and to halve emissions per sold car by 2030. Polestar 4 is our lowest-carbon-footprint car to date, while Polestar 3 - an SUV - achieved a lower carbon footprint than Polestar 2 had when it launched in 2020.
In terms of logistics, we collaborate closely with our logistics partners to find better solutions, such as using biofuels in shipping and integrating electric trucks into our handover services. But in the grand scheme of emissions reduction, logistics plays a much smaller role than material sourcing and production.
The company is working on an experimental carbon-neutral car project – how is that progressing?
Our Polestar 0 project is our “moonshot” goal of creating a fully climate-neutral car, through a cross-industry, collaborative research project, gathering over 30 partners. In recent years, we have already managed to cut three tons of CO₂e from our cars’ footprints, proving that meaningful reductions are possible today.
For Polestar 0, we are working closely with companies like Swedish steelmaker SSAB and Norwegian aluminum producer Norsk Hydro to find solutions for carbon-neutral steel, aluminum, batteries, plastics, and electronics. The project is generating invaluable insights that will help us reach the ultimate goal of decarbonizing the entire industry by 2040.
Emissions from everyday EV use happen when drivers charge their cars with electricity from non-renewable sources. How can EV companies combat that?
With Polestar 2, we conducted a lifecycle assessment that showed charging with renewable energy more than halves its climate impact. So, ensuring that the electricity is renewable is the big challenge. That is where the grid itself needs to become a climate solution. The key is energy storage—renewables like wind and solar fluctuate, so we need better ways to store that energy during times of low generation and here, EVs can be part of the solution. Cars already have large batteries that can store and return energy to the grid, creating a full circle between the automotive and energy sectors.
We have a responsibility to consumers to demonstrate that this technology works and to help integrate it into everyday life in a way that is both practical and rewarding. Our Polestar Energy project explores this opportunity, collaborating with energy providers to enable bi-directional charging so that customers can sell stored energy back to the grid. This not only benefits the grid but also allows EV owners to gain financial value from their vehicles while contributing to a cleaner energy system.
There is still concern amongst consumers about the ease, time and cost of charging EVs. What positive information is on your radar regarding the rollout of charging infrastructure?
A recent report from Transport & Environment, which assessed Europe’s progress in building out EV charging infrastructure found that all European countries have now reached their targets for charging network expansion. Secondly, we are ahead of schedule in EV sales compared to expectations.
So, for the first time, charging infrastructure is growing faster than EV adoption, which is a great sign. The next challenge is making sure these charging points are user-friendly and accessible. To help with this, we launched Polestar Charge, which simplifies the charging experience for our customers both technically and practically.
EV sales are recovering from a dip in 2024 and most analysts predict a strong year ahead. With every major car manufacturer pivoting to EV production, how do you perceive the competition landscape for Polestar in 2025 and 2026?
We are very excited about the response. Last year was a learning curve and a stark reminder that we cannot slow down. Now is the time to accelerate, collaborate and ensure we provide the solutions the world needs. As an industry, we share the same challenges; securing infrastructure, increasing supply chain capacity, and addressing sustainability concerns in sourcing raw materials.
At the same time, Polestar has a unique position and clear selling points that excite consumers.
Consumers today need hope—they need to see that choosing a more sustainable option does not mean compromising on design, performance, or convenience.
In Polestar 4, for example, we use a material called tailored knit, crafted from 100% recycled plastic. We also work with Bridge of Weir, an ethical leather supplier that ensures full traceability, high animal welfare standards, and sources only dairy industry byproducts that would otherwise go to waste. That is what we deliver: a beautiful, sustainable and exciting driving experience. When you press the accelerator, you get butterflies in your stomach. This is our strength.
