Swedish automaker Polestar tapped America’s electric vehicle giant Tesla as it seeks to join its enormous and reliable charging network in China, according to its Weibo announcement on March 20.
Polestar EVs can now use Tesla Superchargers in China
Polestar officially announced on Wednesday that its electric vehicle owners can finally access Tesla’s Supercharger and Destination Charger stations in mainland China.
“…It turned out that Polestar joined hands with Tesla China to start charging network sharing. You can log in to the Polestar app to charge at Tesla’s Supercharger and destination charging stations in Chinese mainland, and enjoy a convenient and worry-free travel experience such as fast energy replenishment and on-the-go charging.”
Polestar announcement on Weibo (Translated to English)
As mentioned in the announcement, Chinese-based Polestar owners can simply use the Polestar app to locate and use Tesla’s charging network.
This newly formed partnership comes amid the growing trend among electric automakers planning to leverage competitive charging access to improve ownership experience.
Tesla Supercharger expansion
Tesla continues to progress in its strategy to expand the reach of its reputable Supercharger network to all electric vehicle models regardless of brand, especially in the United States.
EV-a2z previously reported that Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E finally gained access to Tesla’s Supercharger network in late February, followed by startup Rivian this week.
In that sense, the Musk-led company has already updated its website to add a new “Charging for All” page. It currently lists Ford and Rivian under the “Supported” category, while General Motors, Volvo, and Polestar, are under the “Coming Spring 2024.”
Polestar 3 production start in China
This significant development apparently emerged following Polestar’s production commencement of the new Polestar 3 in China in February. It will join the Swedish brand’s current lineup, which consists of the Polestar 2 and Polestar 4.
“This stunning car takes a significant step forward with start of production marking an important milestone on our journey from a one to three car company.”
CEO Thomas Ingenlath
For context, the Polestar 3 electric SUV is already available in the US market with a Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $73,400. It rides on the same platform as the Volvo EX90. It comes with two variants, including the Long Range and Long Range Performance. Refer to the table below for the key specifications of the Polestar 3 in the US:
| Long range Dual motor | Long range Dual motor with Performance pack | |
| Starting price | $73,400 MSRP | $79,400 MSRP |
| Motor | Two 180 kW permanent magnetic motors Liquid cooling True torque vectoring on rear axle Rear motor disconnect clutch | Two 180 kW permanent magnetic motors Liquid cooling True torque vectoring on rear axle Rear motor disconnect clutch Performance software upgrade, boosting power with 380 kW/ 517 hp and torque with 671 lb-ft |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
| Power¹ | 360 kW / 489 hp | 380 kW / 517 hp |
| Torque¹ | 620 lb-ft | 671 lb-ft |
| 0–60 mph¹ | 4.8 seconds | 4.5 seconds |
| Top speed¹ | 130 mph | 130 mph |
| Range up to (EPA)¹ ² | 315 mi | 279 mi |
| Energy consumption¹ | 38 kWh/100 mi | 44 kWh/100 mi |
| Towing capacity | Up to 3,500 lbs | Up to 3,500 lbs |
| Battery | 400 V lithium-ion battery, 111 kWh capacity, 17 modules | 400 V lithium-ion battery, 111 kWh capacity, 17 modules |
