Auto Shanghai 2021

China is the world’s largest EV market. It’s also Polestar’s second home, the site of all of our manufacturing facilities, and the place that enables us to realise our technological and design ambitions on the scale required to truly drive (see what we did there) the e-mobility revolution.

And given that China is, in many ways, the entire automotive industry in microcosm, an appearance at a Chinese auto show is an opportunity to interact with the industry directly. Which is why we appeared at Auto Shanghai 2021.

There were a number of highlights which commanded the lion’s share of the Polestar-related press around the event. The golden Polestar 1 was one of them. “The Polestar 1 is already one of the most striking cars to spot on the road today,” enthuses Road Show by CNET. “ And for 25 fortunate customers, it’s about to become even more jaw-dropping.”

Built to commemorate the Polestar 1’s final production year, the golden version is a send-off in style for our electric performance hybrid. Matte gold exterior, matching stitching on the Nappa leather interior, and black wheels ensured that this extremely limited-run Polestar 1 (25 to be built total) shone like a beacon for the in-person and virtual attendees of Auto Shanghai 2021.

01/06

Polestar Precept at Auto Shanghai 2021.

Another focus for press and public alike was Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath’s wake-up call, delivered in the form of a keynote to those who would prioritise market valuations over environmental protection. “It frankly amazes me that there are companies out there that are worth billions of dollars and have never made a car,” he says. “I would like to today state clearly that the electric mobility revolution needs to be grounded in reality, not dreams.”

Which is not to say that dreams don’t play a part. Thinking beyond the current reality is how revolutions are formed, after all. But the collective ambition that is a more sustainable electric future needs to be firmly anchored in the real world. In today’s automotive landscape.

And what better place to address the current state of automotive than China?

Related

Kindred spirits: GANNI

With a shared commitment to breaking with convention, Polestar teamed up with Danish fashion brand GANNI for Copenhagen Fashion Week. We spoke with GANNI Founder Nicolaj Reffstrup about moral obligations, innovative low-carbon solutions and coming out as not sustainable.

Design Towards Zero Award Winners: Werewool

Werewool’s textile innovation and sustainable technology has the potential to revolutionise the clothing industry. With a new class of protein-based biodegradable textile fibres the textile industry's dependence on extractive raw materials, harmful dyes, and plastics can be broken.

Transforming the SUV coupé

When contemplating our next car, Polestar 4, we had to ask a simple question: “How will a Polestar SUV coupé be different to all the rest and solve typical SUV coupé downsides?”