Renault is said to be exploring the possibility of manufacturing electric cars for Polestar, the Geely-Volvo brand, at its Spanish plant in Palencia for the European market, according to reports from La Tribuna de Automoción, citing insider information. The production of an all-electric Polestar model at Renault’s Spanish facility is purportedly slated to commence in 2025, with the report suggesting it could be an SUV body, potentially referring to the Polestar 3 or Polestar 4 models.
While the exact model remains unspecified, Polestar and Renault already have a collaborative arrangement for the Polestar 4. Polestar recently confirmed plans for contract manufacturing of the Polestar 4 at Renault Korea Motors in Busan, South Korea, in addition to production in Hangzhou Bay, China. The Polestar 3 is set to begin production in Chengdu in early 2024, with additional production at Volvo’s US plant in South Carolina planned later.
The consideration of Renault’s Spanish plant for Polestar production in Europe aligns with Polestar’s strategy to diversify manufacturing locations to mitigate risks associated with potential protectionist measures. The European production would also serve as a response to the EU’s anti-dumping investigation into electric cars from China.
Renault, however, has denied any such plans, echoing a previous denial in response to reports about potential battery cell supplies from AESC for its Spanish plants. The French automaker is currently producing the Austral SUV and the fourth generation of the Mégane in Palencia, and there have been speculations about future electric vehicle production at the site.
Volvo Cars, associated with Polestar, recently announced its decision to produce the EX30 electric model in Europe, specifically at its plant in Ghent, Belgium. The EX30, like the Polestar 4, is based on the SEA platform from Geely.
