Polestar introduced its SUV 3 late last year, followed by Volvo and the EX90 a few weeks later. These two models, integrated into the Chinese Geely group, share the majority of technical and software components. And, apparently, it is this last point that seems to be a problem for engineers, forcing both brands are revising their production schedules.

Spring 2024?

During the presentation, the Polestar 3 was announced to enter the market this autumn, the production of which was supposed to start already in August 2023. Now it has been postponed to the first quarter of 2024. The same sentence for the EX90, which was about to start production. in the last three months of this year. It will NOW for the “first half” of 2024, according to Automotive News. What exactly is wrong? Brands apparently did not disclose this in detail. But a Volvo source said “continuing work on the vehicle’s software will help ensure a quality experience for all customers”, adding that “demand for the EX90 remains strong”.

Implications for employment

In the house of Polar Star, the Polestar 3 delay has a much more concrete impact on the health of the company. Designer had to revise its annual volume forecasts downwards. So in 2023, Polestar hopes to deliver between 60,000 and 70,000 cars, 10,000 fewer than originally planned. However, this figure is higher than the 51,500 cars sold last year. “Given the more challenging economic climate, it’s difficult for us to make up for the lack of Polestar 3 volumes with additional Polestar 2 volumes,” said Johan Malmqvist, Polestar’s chief financial officer, during a conference call with our colleagues at Automotive News. “This situation, combined with strong uncertainty in the market, has forced us to reduce volumes.”

Indirect consequence: the manufacturer will lay off about 10% of its 3,000 employees, and has frozen the promised hiring of 500 new employees for now. Another blow to the Swedish car industry after the announcement Volvo with cut 1,300 jobs from its Swedish headquarters.

Dear flag bearers

The Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3 should embody the standard bearers of their respective brands. Real technology concentrates, these new models have combined all the best that the Geely group can offer. Prices are of course appropriate, approaching €100,000 for both.