After some delay, the Polestar 3 electric midsize SUV has started production at Volvo's plant near Charleston, South Carolina, paving the way for the start of customer deliveries in the U.S. shortly. It joins the related Volvo EX90 which has been in production at the plant since June.
U.S.-built Polestar 3s will be sold locally, as well as in Europe. Polestar 3 production is also handled at Volvo's plant in Chengdu, China, where the first examples rolled off the line in February.
Production was meant to start in Chengdu in the fourth quarter of 2023 but was put on hold due to software-related issues. The same issues also led to delays in the start of production of the 2025 EX90. Recall, both SUVs were shown as early as the fall of 2022.
Both SUVs are based on Volvo's SPA2 platform developed from the onset for EVs. The Polestar only comes with two rows whereas the Volvo has a third row.
2025 Polestar 3 Performance Pack, test drive, Madrid
In the U.S., the Polestar 3 comes with a dual-motor electric powertrain delivering 489 hp as standard and 517 hp with an available Performance Pack. Owners can expect 0-60 mph acceleration of 4.9 seconds as standard and 4.6 seconds with the Performance Pack. The top speed is 130 mph in both configurations.
The sole battery is a 111-kwh unit that Polestar estimates will deliver up to 315 miles of EPA-rated range.
2025 Polestar 3 Performance Pack, test drive, Madrid
Order books for the Polestar 3 are already open and pricing in the U.S. starts at $74,800, including a $1,400 destination charge.
Polestar also has the 4 compact crossover in production in China, though to avoid steep tariffs bringing the vehicle into the U.S., Polestar plans to start production in South Korea around the middle of 2025. A free-trade agreement means the Korean-built Polestar 4s won't be affected by any tariffs.
