Polestar, the Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer, has announced plans to launch a smartphone in December alongside the release of its Polestar 4, a sports utility vehicle (SUV) coupe, in China. This move underscores a growing trend among EV makers in China who are prioritizing technology integration to meet the demands of tech-savvy car buyers.
The Polestar 4 will mark the company’s first vehicle delivery in China, with production scheduled to commence this year and deliveries expected by the end of the year. Concurrently, Polestar will venture into the smartphone market, an unconventional move for an EV manufacturer, in partnership with Xingji Meizu, a Chinese smartphone maker owned by Geely, the parent company of Polestar.
The goal behind this move is to create a seamless integration of technology between vehicles and smartphones, making the car a mobile phone on wheels. This aligns with the trend of customizing operating systems to synchronize the car and smartphone, as there is no Google Android mobile operating system available in China. By launching a smartphone, Polestar aims to offer a holistic and tightly connected experience, including bundled software, apps, services, and features for car control and management via the phone.
Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath emphasized that the smartphone would be a “premium” device, targeting the high-end device market, a departure from Meizu’s reputation for mid-tier devices.
This move isn’t unique to Polestar; Chinese EV startup Nio also plans to launch its self-developed mobile phone, recognizing the potential for seamless integration and improved user experience.
While Polestar faces fierce competition in the Chinese EV market, its partnership with Geely and Meizu positions it to tap into the demand for cutting-edge technology and premium electric vehicles. Polestar plans to follow up with the release of the Polestar 3, an electric SUV, after the Polestar 4, further solidifying its presence in the rapidly evolving Chinese EV landscape.
