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Tesla is one of the most successful electric car brands in the United States. Although they often get a lot of attention, other brands create EVs with similar quality and performance levels. One of those lesser-known companies is Polestar. It’s still growing and looks poised to provide a legitimate alternative to Tesla, especially as they expand their market share. Today, we will explore these companies and learn a little about our Tesla vs Polestar comparison.
Tesla vs Polestar: Side by Side Comparison
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| Tesla | Polestar | |
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2003 | 1996 |
| Current Models | Model S, 3, X, and Y, with the Cybertruck and Roadster coming soon. Multiple variants of each model. | Polestar 1, 2, 3 (coming soon) |
| Vehicles Delivered | Over 500,000 in the first half of 2022. | 21,000 in the first half of 2022. |
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas. | Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Company valuation | 965.61B market cap | 18.96B market cap |
Tesla vs Polestar: What’s the difference?
History
Tesla is one of the famous car brands, and they have hit the sweet spot in EVs. They released their first car, the original Roadster, in 2008. The car’s success led to the creation of the company’s first all-electric sedan available on a commercial scale, the Model S. It has become one of the best cars to roll out of the assembly line and even won awards in multiple categories. While establishing their lineup of four cars (Models S, 3, X, and Y), Tesla also entered the battery and solar business, particularly on the grid. The company hopes to establish itself as the world’s premier EV automaker while at the same time innovating power storage and creation in multiple industries.
Polestar isn’t as famous as Tesla, but they are still in direct competition. The company was founded in 1996 and was intended to be the racing division of Volvo Motors. Volvo was acquired by Geely in 2010, which then fully acquired Polestar in 2015. Once Polestar was under the protective covering of Volvo, they began the transition into the company they are today – an EV manufacturer. Polestar has been working hard to create some better EVs on the market. Their initial release, the Polestar 1, was a hybrid model meant to attract attention. The second model, the Polestar 2, is their first commercially available car and has been highly reviewed. The company values sustainability and shares a mission with Tesla to move the world towards greener alternatives.
Models
Tesla currently has four commercially available cars, the Model S, 3, X, and Y (yes, it spells SEXY). The Model S is the sportier luxury sedan and one of the priciest EVs that the company has. The Model 3 is the most popular car on the lineup and is the most affordable sedan. The Model X is a luxury SUV that is larger and more expensive than its sibling, the Model Y.
The Model Y is the more affordable version of the Model X, only smaller and built with many of the same parts as the Model 3. Additionally, a new version of the Roadster is set to be released, and the company has already taken pre-orders on a new EV pickup, the Cybertruck. Each of the models has its variants.
Polestar is the new kid on the block and only has one commercially available model, the Polestar 2. The Polestar 1 was initially released to gain traction and test consumer feelings towards the cars, but the P2 is the first actual offering by the company at scale. The P2 is an entry-level luxury sedan comparable to the Model 3 on Tesla’s end. The Polestar 3 is set to release in October of 2022 and will be the SUV option for the company.
Price
There isn’t an exact apples-to-apples comparison for each of these models, but here are some visuals on how the lineups from each company play out in price. Keep in mind that the Polestar 1 and 3 aren’t widely available for purchase, and prices are based on estimates or aftermarket valuations. Additionally, each model has 2-3 variants that can drastically change the price. With that in mind, we’ve included a range for each.
Tesla
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| Model S | $104,990-$135,990 |
| Model 3 | $46,990-$62,990 |
| Model X | $120,990-$138,990 |
| Model Y | $65,990-$69,990 |
| Cybertruck | $39,900-$69,900 |
| Roadster | $200,000-$250,000 |
Polestar
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| Polestar 1 | $156,500 |
| Polestar 2 | $45,900-$57,400 |
| Polestar 3 | $75,000 |
Controversy
Tesla has lofty goals, many of which are set by the company’s leader, Elon Musk. He’s become a bit of a lightning rod for controversy in recent years, throwing the company’s stability into some turmoil. Additionally, working conditions at many of the factories, reports of fraud, production delays, and more have all been stacking up, giving a black eye to the company whose mission is to change the world. Many of these issues are still in trial or remain unaddressed. Still, production numbers are increasing, and the company remains one of the flagship designers for most of its innovations.
Polestar is a smaller company in a much smaller spotlight than Tesla. As such, they don’t have the same production problems or oversight issues that seem to be ailing Tesla. The most significant “problem” that Polestar appears to have run into, aside from a few recalls for software glitches, was a copyright infringement in France over the logo. The solution was simple, and Polestars sold in France now have an altered logo.
Tesla vs Polestar: 8 Must-know facts
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Tesla:
- It’s one of the most valuable car companies in the world, with a brand value of $75.9 billion.
- Tesla is the world’s largest manufacturer of EVs, with their Tesla Model 3 selling 500,713 units in 2021
- The EV maker has four commercially available car models
- It has entered the battery and solar industries
- Tesla has a lightning-rod leader named Elon Musk and is plagued by controversy
Polestar:
- A smaller EV manufacturer that’s owned by Volvo
- It has one commercially available car model
- Polestar has an extreme commitment to environmentalism and sustainability
Tesla vs Polestar: Which one is better?
Tesla and Polestar are both revolutionary companies that operate in the same space. Tesla is one of the only car manufacturers in the United States to succeed in the past few decades, especially at the massive scale it operates. Additionally, many of Tesla’s products set the standard in performance and engineering, whether it’s EVs, batteries, or even solar roof tiles. On the other hand, the company seems to be struggling with its success and are working towards better systems, processes, and oversight that could help them stay out of the news.
Polestar is also revolutionary, only in a different way. They don’t hope to be the largest EV manufacturer in the world, but they plan on being the greenest. They have a plan to create the very first carbon-neutral car, the Polestar 0, by 2030. Even more, they hope to be a carbon-neutral company by 2040.
If you want a car with the best performance, a rapidly expanding network of products, and a recognizable name, Tesla is probably the best option. If you want a more subtle car with the quiet backing of an already successful company (Volvo) and want to support one of the most moonshot environmental goals of the century, a Polestar is probably best for you.
