[Taboleo] Preview of Swedish Electric Cars Made in Busan

Renault Korea to Produce Polestar 4 in 2025
Test Drive of Korea's Only Imported Polestar 2 Facelift
Evolution of Front Grille, Drive System, and Charging Range
Improved Safety Features and Ride Comfort... Slight Price Increase

Last November, Renault Korea Motors, which has a production base in Busan, announced that it will produce vehicles for the Swedish electric car brand Polestar starting in 2025. The vehicle to be produced is the mid-size sports utility vehicle (SUV) Polestar 4. The Polestar 4 made here is planned to be sold in Korea or exported to the North American market.

You can get a preview of the Korean-made Polestar that will be available in 2025. The only vehicle Polestar currently offers in the Korean market is the Polestar 2. This vehicle underwent a facelift last October. The Polestar 2 is the ‘breadwinner’ responsible for Polestar’s sales before the release of upcoming models such as the Polestar 4. This car sold 2,794 units in 2022, ranking 4th in total imported electric vehicle sales. Although sales slowed somewhat last year with only 1,654 units sold, the facelifted model is expected to drive sales growth this year.

Polestar 2 Facelift
Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@

The Polestar 2 has changed significantly in three main ways compared to before. The front grille, which was previously black carbon, is now covered with the same color as the overall vehicle. White cars have white decorative overlays. The drivetrain has also changed. The Polestar 2 is available in trims with a single motor or dual motors. The single-motor vehicle’s drive changed from front-wheel to rear-wheel, while the dual-motor vehicle’s drive changed from all-wheel to rear-wheel-based all-wheel drive. The single-charge driving range has slightly increased: from 417 km to 449 km for the single motor, and from 334 km to 379 km for the dual motor.

When brands say they have changed a vehicle, what matters to consumers is whether they can actually feel the changes. The three changes in the Polestar 2 were clearly noticeable. I was able to tell because I test-drove the previous model one week before driving the facelifted Polestar 2. With the grille now matching the vehicle color, the overall design feels more unified and gives a clean impression. Polestar explains that the area where the grille used to be now houses a Smart Zone, enhancing the minimal design’s completeness. The Smart Zone includes safety-related devices such as a front camera and mid-range radar.

The grille matches the color of the vehicle, giving the overall design a more cohesive and clean impression. A smart zone has been installed where the grille used to be.
Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@

The change in drivetrain provides a more comfortable ride. The dual-motor trim has better performance due to having an additional motor compared to the single motor. However, it also offers a firmer ride. After switching to rear-wheel drive, the dual motor’s characteristic electric vehicle ‘jerkiness’ felt from the driver’s seat has been reduced. Although I did not drive the pre-facelift single-motor model, compared to the dual motor, it offers a slightly more comfortable ride.

What Polestar has done well before remains unchanged. The audio system designed by Harman Kardon uses 13 speakers and an air woofer. When listening to music with attractive bass sounds, increasing the bass volume also increases vibrations inside the car, providing a three-dimensional experience. Korea’s first electric vehicle-exclusive T-map infotainment system offers convenience combined with a vertical center display. Although this vehicle does not have a head-up display (HUD), displaying the map on the driver’s instrument panel allows the driver to view the map while focusing on driving, similar to a HUD. Because the center display is vertical, you can know the route without turning your head.

Polestar 2 Facelift Model Interior
Photo by Polestar Korea

However, the price has increased slightly. Both the single-motor and dual-motor versions rose by 1 million KRW to 55.9 million KRW and 60.9 million KRW, respectively. Based on Seoul’s electric vehicle subsidies (as of last December), the subsidies are 6.32 million KRW and 2.84 million KRW, respectively. For the single motor, the price after subsidy is 49.58 million KRW, making it possible to purchase in the 40 million KRW range.