Chinese horsepower war continues with Zeekr prepping 1500kW car
According to Car News China, two well-known car bloggers on Weibo claim Zeekr is working on a faster and more powerful version of the 001 FR electric hyper-wagon (pictured throughout).
This as-yet unnamed variant of the 001 FR will reportedly slam down at least 1491kW, or 2000 horsepower in the old money.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
The existing 001 FR is no slouch, with the quad-motor EV boasting a total output of 930kW (1247hp), and capable of blasting through the 0-100km/h standard in a claimed 2.07 seconds after a one-foot rollout.
As there's a motor for each wheel, the 001 FR is capable of tank turns, or turning 360 degrees in its own footprint, like the electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
Equipped with 100kWh battery pack, and an 800V electrical architecture, the 001 FR can be recharged from 10 to 80 per cent in 15 minutes. Brembo brakes help bring the FR to a stop, while carbon-fibre components help to reduce weight.
Although it's yet to be confirmed, it's likely the even-faster version of the FR will have further changes to its chassis, and aero package.
It's unknown how quick the 2000hp liftback will be, but it's likely Zeekr is looking to outdo the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. The smartphone maker's car has a three-motor drivetrain producing 1138kW and 1770Nm, and a claimed 0-100km/h time of just 1.98 seconds.
In June, the SU7 Ultra became the fastest EV to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife, with its time of seven minutes and 4.957 seconds, a few seconds faster than the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.
MORE: Everything Zeekr
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Is there such a thing as too much power for a road-going car? Zeekr – one of the many brands operated by Volvo-parent Geely – seems like it wants to find out.
According to Car News China, two well-known car bloggers on Weibo claim Zeekr is working on a faster and more powerful version of the 001 FR electric hyper-wagon (pictured throughout).
This as-yet unnamed variant of the 001 FR will reportedly slam down at least 1491kW, or 2000 horsepower in the old money.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
The existing 001 FR is no slouch, with the quad-motor EV boasting a total output of 930kW (1247hp), and capable of blasting through the 0-100km/h standard in a claimed 2.07 seconds after a one-foot rollout.
As there's a motor for each wheel, the 001 FR is capable of tank turns, or turning 360 degrees in its own footprint, like the electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
Equipped with 100kWh battery pack, and an 800V electrical architecture, the 001 FR can be recharged from 10 to 80 per cent in 15 minutes. Brembo brakes help bring the FR to a stop, while carbon-fibre components help to reduce weight.
Although it's yet to be confirmed, it's likely the even-faster version of the FR will have further changes to its chassis, and aero package.
It's unknown how quick the 2000hp liftback will be, but it's likely Zeekr is looking to outdo the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. The smartphone maker's car has a three-motor drivetrain producing 1138kW and 1770Nm, and a claimed 0-100km/h time of just 1.98 seconds.
In June, the SU7 Ultra became the fastest EV to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife, with its time of seven minutes and 4.957 seconds, a few seconds faster than the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.
MORE: Everything Zeekr
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Is there such a thing as too much power for a road-going car? Zeekr – one of the many brands operated by Volvo-parent Geely – seems like it wants to find out.
According to Car News China, two well-known car bloggers on Weibo claim Zeekr is working on a faster and more powerful version of the 001 FR electric hyper-wagon (pictured throughout).
This as-yet unnamed variant of the 001 FR will reportedly slam down at least 1491kW, or 2000 horsepower in the old money.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
The existing 001 FR is no slouch, with the quad-motor EV boasting a total output of 930kW (1247hp), and capable of blasting through the 0-100km/h standard in a claimed 2.07 seconds after a one-foot rollout.
As there's a motor for each wheel, the 001 FR is capable of tank turns, or turning 360 degrees in its own footprint, like the electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
Equipped with 100kWh battery pack, and an 800V electrical architecture, the 001 FR can be recharged from 10 to 80 per cent in 15 minutes. Brembo brakes help bring the FR to a stop, while carbon-fibre components help to reduce weight.
Although it's yet to be confirmed, it's likely the even-faster version of the FR will have further changes to its chassis, and aero package.
It's unknown how quick the 2000hp liftback will be, but it's likely Zeekr is looking to outdo the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. The smartphone maker's car has a three-motor drivetrain producing 1138kW and 1770Nm, and a claimed 0-100km/h time of just 1.98 seconds.
In June, the SU7 Ultra became the fastest EV to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife, with its time of seven minutes and 4.957 seconds, a few seconds faster than the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.
MORE: Everything Zeekr
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Is there such a thing as too much power for a road-going car? Zeekr – one of the many brands operated by Volvo-parent Geely – seems like it wants to find out.
According to Car News China, two well-known car bloggers on Weibo claim Zeekr is working on a faster and more powerful version of the 001 FR electric hyper-wagon (pictured throughout).
This as-yet unnamed variant of the 001 FR will reportedly slam down at least 1491kW, or 2000 horsepower in the old money.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
The existing 001 FR is no slouch, with the quad-motor EV boasting a total output of 930kW (1247hp), and capable of blasting through the 0-100km/h standard in a claimed 2.07 seconds after a one-foot rollout.
As there's a motor for each wheel, the 001 FR is capable of tank turns, or turning 360 degrees in its own footprint, like the electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
Equipped with 100kWh battery pack, and an 800V electrical architecture, the 001 FR can be recharged from 10 to 80 per cent in 15 minutes. Brembo brakes help bring the FR to a stop, while carbon-fibre components help to reduce weight.
Although it's yet to be confirmed, it's likely the even-faster version of the FR will have further changes to its chassis, and aero package.
It's unknown how quick the 2000hp liftback will be, but it's likely Zeekr is looking to outdo the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. The smartphone maker's car has a three-motor drivetrain producing 1138kW and 1770Nm, and a claimed 0-100km/h time of just 1.98 seconds.
In June, the SU7 Ultra became the fastest EV to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife, with its time of seven minutes and 4.957 seconds, a few seconds faster than the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.
MORE: Everything Zeekr
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
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West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
Polestar 3 points the way to the Daintree
Sometimes the Polestar party is worth the flights, overnight stays in airport hotels, delays and onboard snacks instead of meals. Getting to Queensland during school holidays is a challenge, travelling through Melbourne to Brisbane, then Cairns — and spending hours on the tarmac in Alice Springs on the way back because air traffic control won't let us leave. Don't ask . . . I'm in the Daintree Rainforest on a whirlwind lifestyle retreat taking in a drift down the Mossman River, a stone's throw from our luxury bolthole Silky Oaks Lodge. Just 24 hours. Getting there from Cairns is half the fun, the road trip in a Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor (there are two variants; I'll explain in a moment) pitched as 'the SUV that drives like a sports car'. The drive is a dream, winding along the coast overlooking the Coral Sea. Coming out of a Perth winter and a frosty morning in Melbourne, it's deliciously warm; T-shirt weather. It's dry season. Without delays, we'd make it in 90 minutes, but there are endless roadworks along the way, so I lose track of time. But who cares when the scenery is this stunning. 'Caution. Falling coconuts', a sign warns at a rest stop. Polestar 3 is the Chinese-owned Swedish brand's second all-electric vehicle — and first SUV (there's also a Polestar 4), sharing the same SPA2 electric vehicle platform as the Volvo EX90, which has just arrived in Australia. Hopping inside, I find it hard to tell driver features apart, right down to the quirky volume control dial on the centre console, which is otherwise bare in the best tradition of minimalistic design. All functions are otherwise accessed via the 14.5-inch portrait-style infotainment touchscreen, including the glovebox and side mirror adjustments. But, look closely at the detail, and the Polestar 3 is even more pared back than the EX90. Love it. Polestar is part of China's Geely automotive empire, which owns the likes of Volvo, Lotus and Zeekr. It started as an independent racing team called Flash Engineering in 1996, later developing performance tuning software for Volvo. In 2009, Polestar became Volvo's performance tuning partner and, in 2015, Volvo fully acquired Polestar, using it as the model name for its high-performance wagons and sedans. In 2017, Polestar was established as a standalone company by Volvo Cars and Geely Holding, listing on the Nasdaq in 2022. Polestar senior exterior designer Nahum Escobedo describes the Polestar 3 as a 'celebration of technology'. There's no front grille; instead a cluster of cameras, radars and sensors for the ADAS (advanced driver assistance system). At first glance, it's not obvious what it is. There's no chrome badge. No model name. Just a body-coloured logo, front and rear, consisting of a symmetrical stylised star representing Polaris, otherwise known as the Pole Star or North Star, that has guided travellers throughout history. Look at the bottom of each of the front doors and you'll see the vehicle's battery size and power output in subtle black text. Design is beautiful and sleek, with an aerodynamic roofline, frameless door mirrors and Volvo's signature Thor's Hammer daytime running lights that resemble, well, a hammer, the moniker deriving from Thor, the hammer-wielding Norse god of thunder, lightning, storms, wrestling, oak trees, strength, fertility and more . . . Oh, there are full LED headlights with active high beam and optional 1.3-megapixel HD LED headlights with adaptive driving beam consisting of more than a million mirrors that can be controlled individually for higher definition illumination. At the rear, a light bar with 168 LEDs. Polestar 3 got three accolades in the 2024 Good Design Awards, regarded as the most prestigious in Australia, picking up gold in the Product Design category, the Automotive Design Award — Best Exterior Design, and the Best in Class Award for the Automotive and Transport category. Judges said it was 'a symbol of a new era in mobility, offering a sophisticated, sleek silhouette with a striking road presence'. Luggage capacity is 484 litres with seats up and there are plenty of storage options in the cabin, including a compartment under the centre armrest that can take up to four 500ml bottles, plus a 32-litre frunk under the bonnet. Innovative materials in the cabin include bespoke woven flax fibres in seat shells that reduce both plastic and weight, optional animal-welfare certified wool and, also, optional animal-welfare Nappa leather from Bridge of Weir, which upcycles hides that would otherwise go to landfill. Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard says sustainability and traceability are the cornerstones of the brand. 'For Polestar, electrification is just the beginning — you need to go beyond the usage phase of an EV to truly de-carbonise and effect positive change,' he explains. 'With this commitment comes a need for true transparency. Lifecycle assessment reports are shared by many brands, but none go as far as Polestar in sharing the methodology behind its reports. 'In the case of Polestar 3, the report was conducted to an ISO standard and audited by global engineering firm Ricardo. 'Since Polestar started measuring its impact in 2020, the company has reduced its carbon footprint per car sold by a quarter (24.7 per cent). This is despite introducing two SUV models in Polestar 3 and Polestar 4. 'The most significant contributing factors to this achievement include the use of low-carbon aluminium in all models, improvements in battery manufacturing, 100 per cent renewable electricity in manufacturing plants and more efficient logistics combined with the increased use of biofuels on certain ocean routes.' He emphasises traceability is also key to ensuring a more ethical and transparent supply chain. 'Major risks associated with mining minerals include child and forced labour, weak rule of law, corruption, artisanal and small-scale mining and environmental pollution,' he explains, adding the brand uses blockchain technology to help trace these materials so risks can be identified and action taken where necessary. 'Polestar 2 was the first electric vehicle to trace the cobalt in its battery using blockchain technology. Since then, the program has been extended to include mica, lithium and nickel. 'In addition to vegan leather alternatives such as WeaveTech, Polestar offers an animal welfare-traced Nappa leather upholstery, which is a waste product from meat consumption, and welfare-certified wool for interior upholstery.' Significantly, Mr Maynard says that while Polestar is Geely-owned, it's regarded as a European brand — so Swedish design with European and/or US component testing for quality control. Look carefully at specs because a lot of the things you might like to have are in upgrade packages, including the Plus Pack ($9000): + 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins for Polestar sound system with active road noise cancellation + Head-up display + Infrared windscreen + Acoustic lower rear window + Foldable load floor + Heated rear seats, steering wheel, wiper blades + Air quality system (PM2.5 sensor and air filter) + Power-operated steering column + Soft-close doors The Nappa upgrade ($7500) comes with: + Perforated Bridge of Weir Nappa leather + Front headrest-mounted speakers + Front seat ventilation + Front seat massage with powered side support + Black ash deco If you're wondering if it's worth it . . . well, the 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio is phenomenal and means you get Abbey Road Studios Mode in settings with four presents drawing on the sound of the legendary London studios that mastered countess era-defining recordings. It's the closest you'll get to the real thing. Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor + Power and torque: 360kW/840Nm + 0-100km/h: 5.0 seconds + Driven wheels: Dual-motor all-wheel drive + Battery capacity: 107kWh (usable) + Battery type: Lithium-ion (nickel manganese cobalt/NMC) + Claimed range (WLTP): 610km + Maximum AC charge rate: 11kW + Maximum DC charge rate: 250kW Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack + Power and torque: 380kW /910Nm + 0-100km/h: 4.7 seconds + Driven wheels: Dual-motor all-wheel drive + Battery capacity: 107kWh (usable) + Battery type: Lithium-ion (NMC) + Claimed range (WLTP): 560km + Maximum AC charge rate: 11kW + Maximum DC charge rate: 250kW The Polestar 3 has a five-star ANCAP safety rating for build dates from March 2024 onwards, scoring 90 per cent for adult-occupant protection, 94 per cent for child-occupant protection — the second-highest score achieved to date — 79 per cent for vulnerable road-user protection and 79 per cent for safety assist. There are nine airbags, including a centre airbag, which provides added protection to front-seat occupants in side impact crashes. ADAS features include autonomous emergency braking (car-to-car, vulnerable road user, junction and crossing, backover and head-on) as well as a lane-support system with lane keep assist, lane-departure warning and emergency lane keeping. Notably, none of the ADAS features are intrusive and there are four interior radar sensors that can detect movement to help prevent locking a child or pet inside the car. There's no stop/start button. Just open the door, hop inside and put the card on the wireless charging pad (you can take it off once you're moving). I drive the Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor from Cairns to Silky Oaks Lodge and the Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack back to the airport, sharing the ride with a colleague, weaving through cane fields along the way. Both handle winding roads effortlessly; dare I say, 'like a sports car'. Honestly, it feels like we're riding on rails, the handling is stable and confident. I keep steering set to 'firm' — and one-pedal drive set to 'standard' (there's also 'light'), which means I can ease off the accelerator without needing to brake on winding roads. Polestar's one-pedal drive is perfectly calibrated, gently bringing the car to a stop, even in 'standard' setting, without the abruptness of many other EVs. Obviously, you need to gauge the road, bends and distances using it, but it makes driving so much easier — and, of course, you slam on the brakes in an emergency, as you would in any other car. Needless to say, the 360-degree camera has crystal-clear resolution. Everything is perfect, except . . . there's wind noise coming over side mirrors and it gets progressively louder in the cabin getting up to 100km/h. Am I being a brat? I accept Polestar has accomplished no small feat in controlling road and driveline noise in an electric car that has no engine, so maybe it's a big ask to mask the sound of air running over exterior mirrors. Perhaps, smaller digital side cameras could have been used; this would, however, have cluttered the cabin with screens. If price is no object, the Performance variant is the one to get — the one with 'Swedish gold' seatbelts. You're looking at 20kW more power and 70Nm more torque, plus: + Polestar Engineered performance chassis tuning + Brembo brakes with Swedish gold calipers + 22-inch Performance wheels + Pirelli P Zero tyres + Swedish gold valve caps + Laser-etched interior line in Swedish gold Energy consumption, however, is obviously more. I finish the drive on 23.3kWh/100km in the Performance versus 16.5kWh/100km in the Long Range Dual Motor. Like many EVs, both variants have a large panoramic roof, which I don't like, especially in Australian summers. The idea is that it improves the roominess and airy feeling of the cabin. I haven't seen the engineering spec for this, but Polestar says it's made of high-tech laminated glass which reduces noise and solar radiation in the passenger compartment to a greater degree than a traditional glass roof with sunshade and maintains integrity in a crash. Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor: $132,720 Options + Plus pack: $9000 + Nappa upgrade: $7500 + Thunder exterior paint: $2000 Total with options: $151,220 Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack: $144,420 Options + Plus pack: $9000 + Snow exterior paint: $2300 Total with options: $155,720 Note: There's also a Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor priced from $118,420, excluding on-roads. The Polestar 5 will be unveiled later this year. It's expected to arrive in Australia in 2026, though it's already been undergoing local testing for the past four months as part of its global validation program.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Tesla arch-rival Polestar achieves sales record
Polestar has recorded a 51 per cent year-on-year increase in global sales for the first six months of 2025, giving the electric vehicle (EV) brand its highest ever sales figure for the first half of a year. The sales surge included a 23 per cent increase in Australia, powered by the introduction of the brand's first SUVs. The automaker's 30,319 vehicles sold globally to the end of June 2025 (H1) compares to 20,371 over the same period last year – heavily impacted by rental car giant Hertz's cancelled order – and betters 27,868 Polestars sold in the first half of 2023. It becomes the brand's best half-year sales by 28 cars after 30,291 Polestars were sold in the second half of 2022. The figure means Polestar is on track for a record year after 2024's 15 per cent decline to 44,851 full-year sales. Australia sales are up, too, with not only the aforementioned 23 per cent rise for H1, but also a more impressive 38 per cent rise in the second quarter of this year (April-June). Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Year-to-date, Polestar has sold 1173 cars in Australia, with the new Polestar 4 mid-size SUV – introduced in November last year – making up more than half, with 676 sales. Polestar is sitting at 35th in overall brand sales, above Genesis (#38, 765 sales) and fellow Geely-owned brand Zeekr (#41, 450 sales). While the Polestar 4 led the sales race, end-of-financial-year deals on the Polestar 3 and run-out deals – which remain ongoing – for the Polestar 2 also boosted sales. "It's exactly the target [of] where we want to be," Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard told CarExpert and select media on a conference call. Mr Maynard said its Australian sales numbers could have been higher, too"Our number in June [339] was slightly held back on the potential that we had, more by our ability to physically pre-deliver and deliver all of the cars that we had in our order bank," he said. "We carried an active order bank into July that's substantially more than the number that we put through the system in June – there's clearly some pent up demand, and our ability to service that is going to be key." Mr Maynard took over from Samantha Johnson as the head of the local arm of the EV maker just over 12 months ago. "I'm really comfortable with that result because it's driven predominantly by private [sales]; it's not being topped up by the bulk fleet deliveries that sustained our 2024 result," he said. "There was a particularly large bulk delivery through the system in June of last year, and despite that, we're still showing significant improvement. "That was the last of that style of bulk deliveries that we did. And whilst we still see a place for fleet, not in the same way, not with the same appetite that we were going for that large fleet in previous years to sustain the number. "To be able to show growth through predominantly private sales, that's going really well." Tesla still leads EV sales in Australia – despite sales declines both here and globally in the first half of the year – while the Tesla Model Y is the top-selling EV, with nearly triple the sales of the second-place BYD Sealion 7, and the Polestar 4 sitting 14th. Despite its growth, Polestar Australia sits behind the EV sales of Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and BMW – the latter of which has sold almost triple the number of EVs in Australia this year. "It doesn't greatly concern me that we're not outselling Volvo, given we don't have the same number of sales points, nor intend to, and we don't have the same breadth of range, and nor do we intend to, so I'm okay with that position," said Mr Maynard. "Some of those other brands are brands that have been operating in this country for many, many years, and for us to have been selling cars in Australia for three and two of those with one model puts us in a really strong position, provided we continue to grow like that, but I'm comfortable we can." The EV brand will open order books one another new model this year – the Porsche Taycan-rivalling Polestar 5 – but first customer deliveries won't be until 2026, so it won't add to its 2025 sales tally. It won't have another new vehicle in its lineup until the Polestar 7 SUV arrives in Australia – currently scheduled for 2028 – which will be followed by the delayed Polestar 6 sports car. "We're quite excited now about the second half, and we expect to see the same overall, better than the Australian market," Mr Maynard said. "If I look at the brands that are growing in Australia right now, and I'm talking across all drive platforms, not just EV, Polestar's growth is second only to Rolls-Royce and Mini," he added. "Now that's the premium competitor set that we analyse, but that set takes in all the brands I think we would generally consider in the premium set. So, it's the growth aspect that we're really thrilled about." MORE: Everything Polestar Content originally sourced from: Polestar has recorded a 51 per cent year-on-year increase in global sales for the first six months of 2025, giving the electric vehicle (EV) brand its highest ever sales figure for the first half of a year. The sales surge included a 23 per cent increase in Australia, powered by the introduction of the brand's first SUVs. The automaker's 30,319 vehicles sold globally to the end of June 2025 (H1) compares to 20,371 over the same period last year – heavily impacted by rental car giant Hertz's cancelled order – and betters 27,868 Polestars sold in the first half of 2023. It becomes the brand's best half-year sales by 28 cars after 30,291 Polestars were sold in the second half of 2022. The figure means Polestar is on track for a record year after 2024's 15 per cent decline to 44,851 full-year sales. Australia sales are up, too, with not only the aforementioned 23 per cent rise for H1, but also a more impressive 38 per cent rise in the second quarter of this year (April-June). Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Year-to-date, Polestar has sold 1173 cars in Australia, with the new Polestar 4 mid-size SUV – introduced in November last year – making up more than half, with 676 sales. Polestar is sitting at 35th in overall brand sales, above Genesis (#38, 765 sales) and fellow Geely-owned brand Zeekr (#41, 450 sales). While the Polestar 4 led the sales race, end-of-financial-year deals on the Polestar 3 and run-out deals – which remain ongoing – for the Polestar 2 also boosted sales. "It's exactly the target [of] where we want to be," Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard told CarExpert and select media on a conference call. Mr Maynard said its Australian sales numbers could have been higher, too"Our number in June [339] was slightly held back on the potential that we had, more by our ability to physically pre-deliver and deliver all of the cars that we had in our order bank," he said. "We carried an active order bank into July that's substantially more than the number that we put through the system in June – there's clearly some pent up demand, and our ability to service that is going to be key." Mr Maynard took over from Samantha Johnson as the head of the local arm of the EV maker just over 12 months ago. "I'm really comfortable with that result because it's driven predominantly by private [sales]; it's not being topped up by the bulk fleet deliveries that sustained our 2024 result," he said. "There was a particularly large bulk delivery through the system in June of last year, and despite that, we're still showing significant improvement. "That was the last of that style of bulk deliveries that we did. And whilst we still see a place for fleet, not in the same way, not with the same appetite that we were going for that large fleet in previous years to sustain the number. "To be able to show growth through predominantly private sales, that's going really well." Tesla still leads EV sales in Australia – despite sales declines both here and globally in the first half of the year – while the Tesla Model Y is the top-selling EV, with nearly triple the sales of the second-place BYD Sealion 7, and the Polestar 4 sitting 14th. Despite its growth, Polestar Australia sits behind the EV sales of Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and BMW – the latter of which has sold almost triple the number of EVs in Australia this year. "It doesn't greatly concern me that we're not outselling Volvo, given we don't have the same number of sales points, nor intend to, and we don't have the same breadth of range, and nor do we intend to, so I'm okay with that position," said Mr Maynard. "Some of those other brands are brands that have been operating in this country for many, many years, and for us to have been selling cars in Australia for three and two of those with one model puts us in a really strong position, provided we continue to grow like that, but I'm comfortable we can." The EV brand will open order books one another new model this year – the Porsche Taycan-rivalling Polestar 5 – but first customer deliveries won't be until 2026, so it won't add to its 2025 sales tally. It won't have another new vehicle in its lineup until the Polestar 7 SUV arrives in Australia – currently scheduled for 2028 – which will be followed by the delayed Polestar 6 sports car. "We're quite excited now about the second half, and we expect to see the same overall, better than the Australian market," Mr Maynard said. "If I look at the brands that are growing in Australia right now, and I'm talking across all drive platforms, not just EV, Polestar's growth is second only to Rolls-Royce and Mini," he added. "Now that's the premium competitor set that we analyse, but that set takes in all the brands I think we would generally consider in the premium set. So, it's the growth aspect that we're really thrilled about." MORE: Everything Polestar Content originally sourced from: Polestar has recorded a 51 per cent year-on-year increase in global sales for the first six months of 2025, giving the electric vehicle (EV) brand its highest ever sales figure for the first half of a year. The sales surge included a 23 per cent increase in Australia, powered by the introduction of the brand's first SUVs. The automaker's 30,319 vehicles sold globally to the end of June 2025 (H1) compares to 20,371 over the same period last year – heavily impacted by rental car giant Hertz's cancelled order – and betters 27,868 Polestars sold in the first half of 2023. It becomes the brand's best half-year sales by 28 cars after 30,291 Polestars were sold in the second half of 2022. The figure means Polestar is on track for a record year after 2024's 15 per cent decline to 44,851 full-year sales. Australia sales are up, too, with not only the aforementioned 23 per cent rise for H1, but also a more impressive 38 per cent rise in the second quarter of this year (April-June). Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Year-to-date, Polestar has sold 1173 cars in Australia, with the new Polestar 4 mid-size SUV – introduced in November last year – making up more than half, with 676 sales. Polestar is sitting at 35th in overall brand sales, above Genesis (#38, 765 sales) and fellow Geely-owned brand Zeekr (#41, 450 sales). While the Polestar 4 led the sales race, end-of-financial-year deals on the Polestar 3 and run-out deals – which remain ongoing – for the Polestar 2 also boosted sales. "It's exactly the target [of] where we want to be," Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard told CarExpert and select media on a conference call. Mr Maynard said its Australian sales numbers could have been higher, too"Our number in June [339] was slightly held back on the potential that we had, more by our ability to physically pre-deliver and deliver all of the cars that we had in our order bank," he said. "We carried an active order bank into July that's substantially more than the number that we put through the system in June – there's clearly some pent up demand, and our ability to service that is going to be key." Mr Maynard took over from Samantha Johnson as the head of the local arm of the EV maker just over 12 months ago. "I'm really comfortable with that result because it's driven predominantly by private [sales]; it's not being topped up by the bulk fleet deliveries that sustained our 2024 result," he said. "There was a particularly large bulk delivery through the system in June of last year, and despite that, we're still showing significant improvement. "That was the last of that style of bulk deliveries that we did. And whilst we still see a place for fleet, not in the same way, not with the same appetite that we were going for that large fleet in previous years to sustain the number. "To be able to show growth through predominantly private sales, that's going really well." Tesla still leads EV sales in Australia – despite sales declines both here and globally in the first half of the year – while the Tesla Model Y is the top-selling EV, with nearly triple the sales of the second-place BYD Sealion 7, and the Polestar 4 sitting 14th. Despite its growth, Polestar Australia sits behind the EV sales of Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and BMW – the latter of which has sold almost triple the number of EVs in Australia this year. "It doesn't greatly concern me that we're not outselling Volvo, given we don't have the same number of sales points, nor intend to, and we don't have the same breadth of range, and nor do we intend to, so I'm okay with that position," said Mr Maynard. "Some of those other brands are brands that have been operating in this country for many, many years, and for us to have been selling cars in Australia for three and two of those with one model puts us in a really strong position, provided we continue to grow like that, but I'm comfortable we can." The EV brand will open order books one another new model this year – the Porsche Taycan-rivalling Polestar 5 – but first customer deliveries won't be until 2026, so it won't add to its 2025 sales tally. It won't have another new vehicle in its lineup until the Polestar 7 SUV arrives in Australia – currently scheduled for 2028 – which will be followed by the delayed Polestar 6 sports car. "We're quite excited now about the second half, and we expect to see the same overall, better than the Australian market," Mr Maynard said. "If I look at the brands that are growing in Australia right now, and I'm talking across all drive platforms, not just EV, Polestar's growth is second only to Rolls-Royce and Mini," he added. "Now that's the premium competitor set that we analyse, but that set takes in all the brands I think we would generally consider in the premium set. So, it's the growth aspect that we're really thrilled about." MORE: Everything Polestar Content originally sourced from: Polestar has recorded a 51 per cent year-on-year increase in global sales for the first six months of 2025, giving the electric vehicle (EV) brand its highest ever sales figure for the first half of a year. The sales surge included a 23 per cent increase in Australia, powered by the introduction of the brand's first SUVs. The automaker's 30,319 vehicles sold globally to the end of June 2025 (H1) compares to 20,371 over the same period last year – heavily impacted by rental car giant Hertz's cancelled order – and betters 27,868 Polestars sold in the first half of 2023. It becomes the brand's best half-year sales by 28 cars after 30,291 Polestars were sold in the second half of 2022. The figure means Polestar is on track for a record year after 2024's 15 per cent decline to 44,851 full-year sales. Australia sales are up, too, with not only the aforementioned 23 per cent rise for H1, but also a more impressive 38 per cent rise in the second quarter of this year (April-June). Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Year-to-date, Polestar has sold 1173 cars in Australia, with the new Polestar 4 mid-size SUV – introduced in November last year – making up more than half, with 676 sales. Polestar is sitting at 35th in overall brand sales, above Genesis (#38, 765 sales) and fellow Geely-owned brand Zeekr (#41, 450 sales). While the Polestar 4 led the sales race, end-of-financial-year deals on the Polestar 3 and run-out deals – which remain ongoing – for the Polestar 2 also boosted sales. "It's exactly the target [of] where we want to be," Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard told CarExpert and select media on a conference call. Mr Maynard said its Australian sales numbers could have been higher, too"Our number in June [339] was slightly held back on the potential that we had, more by our ability to physically pre-deliver and deliver all of the cars that we had in our order bank," he said. "We carried an active order bank into July that's substantially more than the number that we put through the system in June – there's clearly some pent up demand, and our ability to service that is going to be key." Mr Maynard took over from Samantha Johnson as the head of the local arm of the EV maker just over 12 months ago. "I'm really comfortable with that result because it's driven predominantly by private [sales]; it's not being topped up by the bulk fleet deliveries that sustained our 2024 result," he said. "There was a particularly large bulk delivery through the system in June of last year, and despite that, we're still showing significant improvement. "That was the last of that style of bulk deliveries that we did. And whilst we still see a place for fleet, not in the same way, not with the same appetite that we were going for that large fleet in previous years to sustain the number. "To be able to show growth through predominantly private sales, that's going really well." Tesla still leads EV sales in Australia – despite sales declines both here and globally in the first half of the year – while the Tesla Model Y is the top-selling EV, with nearly triple the sales of the second-place BYD Sealion 7, and the Polestar 4 sitting 14th. Despite its growth, Polestar Australia sits behind the EV sales of Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and BMW – the latter of which has sold almost triple the number of EVs in Australia this year. "It doesn't greatly concern me that we're not outselling Volvo, given we don't have the same number of sales points, nor intend to, and we don't have the same breadth of range, and nor do we intend to, so I'm okay with that position," said Mr Maynard. "Some of those other brands are brands that have been operating in this country for many, many years, and for us to have been selling cars in Australia for three and two of those with one model puts us in a really strong position, provided we continue to grow like that, but I'm comfortable we can." The EV brand will open order books one another new model this year – the Porsche Taycan-rivalling Polestar 5 – but first customer deliveries won't be until 2026, so it won't add to its 2025 sales tally. It won't have another new vehicle in its lineup until the Polestar 7 SUV arrives in Australia – currently scheduled for 2028 – which will be followed by the delayed Polestar 6 sports car. "We're quite excited now about the second half, and we expect to see the same overall, better than the Australian market," Mr Maynard said. "If I look at the brands that are growing in Australia right now, and I'm talking across all drive platforms, not just EV, Polestar's growth is second only to Rolls-Royce and Mini," he added. "Now that's the premium competitor set that we analyse, but that set takes in all the brands I think we would generally consider in the premium set. So, it's the growth aspect that we're really thrilled about." MORE: Everything Polestar Content originally sourced from:
7NEWS
a day ago
- 7NEWS
Deepal dealer deluge coming as Chinese brand plays catch up to BYD, Geely
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brand Deepal is opening five dealerships in July, and says it plans to double its retail footprint in Australia by the end of September this year. Deepal opened four dealerships in Australia when it launched here in late 2024, expanding its network to nine locations shortly thereafter. In July, it's opening five more locations: one each in Wollongong and Penrith in New South Wales, as well as three in Melbourne (Bundoora, Deer Park and Glen Waverly). Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. By the end of September, it aims to have dealerships in the following locations: Liverpool in NSW Werribee, Frankston, Lilydale and Geelong in Victoria Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Cairns and Townsville in Queensland Darwin in the NT Deepal promises its dealerships will offer a 'premium' experience with factory-trained technicians and expert aftersales care. It has just one model available at the moment – its debut model in Australia, the S07 mid-size electric SUV – but is adding a smaller electric SUV called the S05 in the second half of 2025. Both are distinctively styled but go head-to-head with a raft of similarly sized electric SUVs in the Australian market. But the upcoming E07 'Multitruck', due on sale here in the third quarter of 2025, will have no direct competitors thanks to its unusual ute-cum-SUV body. Featuring a retractable rear roof and an electric glass partition, the E07 Multitruck is launching here with a base price of $64,900 before on-road costs and will be available in both single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive forms. In addition to rolling out new products, Deepal has committed to delivering 'significant' over-the-air software upgrades for existing owners, addressing areas such as infotainment system responsiveness, energy management, and voice command functionality. Earlier this year, it rolled out updates to the S07's driver monitoring system and adaptive cruise control. It also extended the electric SUV's service intervals from a short 10,000km to a more competitive 20,000km following criticism of its service schedule and pricing. Deepal – imported here by Subaru distributor Inchcape – has thus far reported only 99 deliveries in Australia, however, it only started appearing in VFACTS industry sales reports in May 2025 despite commencing customer deliveries in December 2024. Nevertheless, Deepal delivered just 32 examples of its S07 in June 2025, against 822 EX5s from rival Chinese brand Geely, which arrived in Australia even more recently. The more affordable EX5, the Geely brand's only model on sale in Australia thus far, is sitting at 1845 deliveries year-to-date. Leading the mid-size electric SUV segment in June were the Tesla Model Y (3457 deliveries), followed by the BYD Sealion 7 (1795 deliveries). Even Leapmotor delivered 60 examples of its C10, which competes in the same segment, bringing the Chinese brand to 309 deliveries year-to-date. The S07 did manage to outsell pricier rivals like the Ford Mustang Mach-E (28 deliveries in June) and Subaru Solterra (10). Deepal introduced offers prior to the end of the financial year, bringing the price of model year 2024 (MY24) S07 vehicles down to $49,990 drive-away. This offer has now been extended to August 31, 2025.
