Currently reading: New 2028 Polestar 7 to be built on Volvo platform in Slovakia

Polestar will use Volvo's next-gen EV platform and new European factory for its high-volume crossover

Polestar will begin production of its upcoming compact crossover, the 7, in 2028 at sibling firm Volvo's new Slovakia factory.

The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding for Volvo's third European plant – currently under construction in Kosice – to build the electric Range Rover Evoque rival, which is set to be Polestar's highest-volume model yet.

It will be the brand's first European-built car. The Polestar 2 and Polestar 4 are made in parent company Geely's facilities in China, as will be the upcoming Polestar 5 sports saloon, while the larger Polestar 3 SUV is built alongside its Volvo EX90 twin in the US. 

Polestar has confirmed the 7 – officially previewed below – will use a 'technology base' from Volvo, which will mean it benefits "from group component sharing, cell-to-body technology with next-generation battery density and performance, as well as the next generation of in-house-developed e-motors".

That "technology base" will be shared with two upcoming Volvo models, including the upcoming third-generation Volvo EX60, which will be the first car to use the company's new SPA3 platform – designed from the ground up for electric vehicles, rather than being adapted from an ICE architecture. 

However, Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller has previously told Autocar that, irrespective of any shared components, the 7 will "behave totally like a Polestar", with the company's R&D teams working "to make sure that Polestar DNA, in terms of chassis tuning, behaviour, look and feel, comes in".

Citing the stark differences between the Polestar 3 and the closely related Volvo EX90 as an example of how two cars that share a platform can still be obviously differentiated models, Lohscheller said: “If you take the Polestar 3 and the EX90, I would argue it’s executed very well. The Volvo is comfort and safety, nice and easy for the commute; the Polestar is a performance car – you feel it in how it drives. The suspension is different; the chassis tuning is different.”

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The company has now confirmed that "adaptations will be made" to the modular platform to ensure it offers "the driving experience and performance characteristics that Polestar is known for".

Confirming the decision to use a Volvo platform and factory for his brand's new entry model, Lohscheller today said: "Working with Volvo Cars to develop and manufacture Polestar 7 in Europe is a unique opportunity that will strengthen our position in our home market. 

"Our strategy of utilising group architectures as the base for our future model line-up gives us access to the best, latest technologies, in a cost-efficient manner. With a design and sporty driving characteristics that are instantly recognisable, Polestar 7 will set new standards in the premium compact SUV segment.”

The 7 will also be distinguished by an evolved design language that, Lohscheller said, will be rolled out to all Polestar models to make them “more confident” and better show off their performance potential.

“Design is of the highest importance,” he added. “[The 7] needs to have a very compelling design, obviously in the Polestar style. Maybe a bit more confidence going forward, and the performance element is also super-important.”

Lohscheller also said a defining tenet of this new treatment – which is being defined by new head of design Philipp Römers – will be making the cars “less minimalistic”. But he stressed that the brand will not seek to completely overhaul its styling cues, so the 7 will be recognisable as a sibling of the 2, 3 and 4.

“I wouldn’t say different,” Lohscheller said of the new look. “Design is always evolving. It will develop, especially with a new head of design, but I would say we’ll keep the basics in terms of Scandinavian design, but I want to have a bit more confidence.”

Lohscheller stopped short of confirming whether this new design approach means the Polestar line-up will be available in a broader and brighter spread of colour options than those currently offered.

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Felix Page

Felix Page
Title: Deputy editor

Felix is Autocar's deputy editor, responsible for leading the brand's agenda-shaping coverage across all facets of the global automotive industry - both in print and online.

He has interviewed the most powerful and widely respected people in motoring, covered the reveals and launches of today's most important cars, and broken some of the biggest automotive stories of the last few years. 

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eelectric 4 June 2025
Nobody knows how a Polestar is supposed to drive because so far they drive identically to Volvos, which is to say they're pretty much average and a bit boring. For a brand that's said they're a Porsche rival, I've yet to see that actually come to fruition. The 2 feels like your average economy car turned EV. The 3 drives like a big heavy EV SUV with a smidge of engagement, but car from Cayenne beating feel or engagement. All of their cars also suffer from terrible use of space. The 3 is based on a 3-row family SUV, yet it has a smaller boot than a Kia EV6 that's nearly a foot shorter. The 2's interior is also extremely cramped due to the huge transmission tunnel they kept from the ICE platform it's based on, and the 4 feels extremely claustrophobic in back from its huge cave-like wraparound ceiling from the lack of a window. The 4's RWD trim is woefully underpowered, while the AWD model has no active rear differential like the Macan or even Kia EV6 GT and Ioniq 5 N. Then there's their decision to force you to spend 5 grand just to get ventilated seats and leather, which is ridiculous. Polestar should've just been kept under Volvo as their performance arm instead of being separated out as its own brand. Zeekr has much more exciting 800V models like the 001. Geely has too many brands all completing against one another. There's no reason the Polestar 3 couldn't be sold as the EX90 Coupe, the 2 could've been called the ES40, the 4 could have been called the EX50. Odds are with a Volvo badge each model would be selling multiple times as many units as they're doing now.
Peter Cavellini 3 June 2025

Are Polestar cars only painted in three colours?, I've seen white black and grey.

289 3 June 2025

Why is everyone putting 'joke' wheels on their EV's (except Cupra).

Looks like a clowns car and difficult to take seriously.

Volkswagens alloy design is awful now too -sort of spirograph designs, with that awful spun shiny finish( 'Diamond finish' they call it) which we all know from decades ago, and unlike a 'diamond', wears really badly and then looks scruffy.

Me thinks that the designers have run out of ideas and just playing with ever wackier ideas.....clearly nice 5 or 7 spoke wheels are no longer allowed.

Andrew1 3 July 2025

It's an Autocar render, not real.