Polestar is tapping into its parent company’s manufacturing network to expand its production of the Polestar 4 into South Korea, targeting North American customers.

The Swedish electric vehicle company says it will diversify its production footprint with a manufacturing contract with Geely Holding and Renault Korea Motors (RKM). Under the undisclosed deal, Polestar 4 vehicles will be produced at RKM’s Busan plant, complementing its production in Hangzhou Bay, China.

The first South Korea-made BEVs are to roll off production lines in the second half of 2025, Kallanish learns from Polestar. The SUV coupé is the second SUV in the Polestar line-up and the fastest Polestar production car to date. The model is positioned between Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 in terms of size and price.

“With Polestar 3 on-track to start production in Chengdu, China in early 2024 and in South Carolina, USA, in the summer of 2024, we will soon have manufacturing operations in five factories, across three countries, supporting our global growth ambitions,” comments Polestar ceo Thomas Ingenlath.

The South Korean agreement enables Polestar to benefit from the competence, flexibility and scalability of its partners and major shareholders without needing to invest in its own facilities. Additionally, it could open a door to US subsidies as South Korea is a free-trade partner to Washington.

Stéphane Deblaise, ceo of RKM, notes Polestar 4 will be the first BEV produced in the Busan plant, “symbolising Renault Korea Motors renewal and our ambitious vision for the future.” She adds the partnership between Renault and Geely is likely to lead to “further opportunities” for the plant in the near future.

The 23-year-old manufacturing plant should become carbon neutral by 2040, through a combination of energy efficiency improvements and renewables adoption. The same timeline of Polestar.