Polestar (PSNY) has hired Philippe Romers as head of its design team. Prior to joining Polestar, Romers was lead designer at Volkswagen and Audi, where he is known for designing the Mk7 VW Golf and the Audi e-tron GT.
Polestar hires ex-VW and Audi designer
Lommers succeeds Maximillian Missoni, who spent the past six years at Polestar after eight and a half years at Volvo and 10 years at Volkswagen in various design roles.
“I’d like to thank Max for his leadership and collaboration in establishing Polestar as Europe’s only pure electric brand,” Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said Wednesday, adding that he helped set the design standards that set Polestar apart for luxury and performance.
Ingenlath welcomed Roemers, saying his modern approach and luxury experience would help Polestar’s “next step in the development of our model range”.
Roemers is best known for designing the seventh-generation VW Golf. After joining Volkswagen in 2006, his designs were introduced on the Golf in 2009.
He then moved to Audi, where he is said to have worked on the design of the current A6, A8 and e-Tron GT models.
Polestar 2 (left), Polestar 3 (centre), Polestar 4 (right) (Source: Polestar)
Inflection Point
The hire comes at a key time for Polestar as it enters its next phase of growth, with the Swedish EV brand expanding its range from one to three vehicles after taking delivery of the first Polestar 4 models in Europe this week.
Deliveries of the Polestar 3 electric SUV began in Europe earlier this summer. “With these three models, Polestar is establishing itself as the design-led premium electric vehicle brand in the global EV market,” Ingenlath explained.
The first Polestar 4 has been delivered in Europe (Source: Polestar)
The company says deliveries of the Polestar 4 will begin in North America and Australia by the end of the year. The car, a modern competitor to the Tesla Model Y, will have a range of up to 300 miles and a starting price of $56,300 in the US.
Last week, Polestar announced it was building its first electric SUV in the U.S. The Polestar 3 will start at $73,400 and have a range of up to 315 miles, and is expected to rival the new Porsche Macan EV.
US Polestar 4 trim starting prices
(including $1,400)
Destination charge) range
(EPA estimates) Long Range Single Motor $56,300 300 miles Long Range Dual Motor $64,300 270 miles Long Range Dual Motor Model
(with Plus and Performance Pack) $74,300 270 miPolestar 4 US trim prices and range
Polestar plans to have a lineup of five premium performance EVs by 2026. The company said an electric four-door GT (Polestar 5) and an electric roadster (Polestar 6) are coming soon.
Polestar sold 54,626 vehicles last year and expects that number to nearly triple next year, aiming to sell 155,000 vehicles.
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