Polestar 2 Kicks Off Production In China Despite Coronavirus

Production of the all-electric Polestar 2 has just commenced at the company’s factory in Luqiao in China’s eastern Zhejiang province.

While many manufacturing facilities across China have been closed for weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Volvo employed a serious of stringent policies at its local sites to ensure its Chinese operations were not affected.

For example, temperature screenings, thorough disinfecting process, and masks for every worker were some of the measures taken. Apparently, they worked, with Polestar saying not one member of its Chinese workforce has contracted the virus.

Read Also: Polestar 2 Towing Capacity Rated At An Impressive 3,300 Lbs

The first Polestar 2 model being produced by the company is the Launch Edition model starting from $63,000. A host of variants will eventually be produced with the range-topping model featuring a pair of electric motors and a 78 kWh battery pack. This model will be good for 402 hp and 487 lb-ft (660 Nm) of torque and capable of hitting 62 mph (100 km/h) in less than 5 seconds.

Variants outfitted with the dual-motor system will also come complete with a number of other performance-focused parts such as adjustable Öhlins suspension and four-piston Brembo brakes. This model should be good for 275 miles (442 km) of range. Further down the line, an entry-level variant with a single electric motor will hit the market.

One particularly neat feature of the Polestar 2 is that it is the first production vehicle to use an infotainment system powered by Android and built-in with Google Assistant, Google Maps and the Google Play Store. Besides the Polestar 2, the Luqiao plant also builds the Volvo XC40.