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Polestar 2 gets a fresh design with sustainability and ethical sourcing in focus
Polestar announced today that its award-winning electric vehicle, the Polestar 2, is receiving sustainability and design updates to minimize climate impact and increase material sourcing transparency as ethical sourcing remains a primary focus of the Swedish automaker.
The Polestar 2 is receiving design updates to its interior, as well as new colors and wheel options for drivers to choose from when ordering the all-electric vehicle. Additionally, numerous improvements to vehicle range ratings will be applied to future builds of the Polestar 2 thanks to the expansion of blockchain traceability for ethical mining practices and a reduced carbon footprint due to the use of renewable energy.
“We have revisited the materials and processes that go into making Polestar 2, introducing updates that reduce climate impact and increase the material traceability of this award-winning car,” Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said. “These are important additions to how we can improve cars over their lifetime – not just with functionality and design updates but addressing sustainability and carbon footprint as well.”
The most crucial improvement to the Polestar 2 is to its batteries, thanks to a partnership with traceability leader Circulor, which now includes blockchain accountability for mica in addition to cobalt, “both of which are critical battery components of an electric car,” the automaker said. The use of blockchain technology allows Polestar to trace where its battery materials and risk materials are sourced from, ensuring they are obtained through ethical mining and manufacturing processes. One of the key arguments against the transition of electric vehicles has been how automakers and battery suppliers obtain the metals and materials necessary for the production of the cells.
Polestar 2 receives top marks in crash safety tests, living up to its Volvo roots
Companies have fought for years to alleviate the idea that EV batteries are not sustainable and that they are obtained in unethical ways. Tesla, for example, detailed in its most recent sustainability report that it uses a series of due diligence processes and randomized checks at its mines across the world to ensure the materials are mined and obtained with ethical practices.
The use of these blockchain accountability programs also translates to better emissions ratings in the Polestar 2, the company says, as the aluminum tray carrying the battery pack will reduce carbon emissions of 1,653 pounds (750 kilograms) per car. This was made possible by purchasing only the aluminum for the tray from suppliers that utilize renewable energy. A low-carbon aluminum is also being used in the Polestar 2’s wheels to increase sustainability metrics.
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- Polestar 2’s new low-carbon aluminum wheels
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- Polestar 2’s new low-carbon aluminum wheels
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- Polestar 2’s new low-carbon aluminum wheels
“In our program updates, we want to take action on improvements that can make a positive sustainability impact quickly, rather than traditional mid-cycle facelifts,” Polestar Head of Sustainability Fredrika Klarén said. “Product optimization programs are common in the car industry, but we are taking an extended approach at Polestar, combining these with CO2e reduction programs as well. A first pilot has been rolled out, replacing the aluminum in the wheels with low-carbon aluminum that is produced using renewable energy. We expect this to result in a 1,322lb (600 kg) CO2e reduction per car for Polestar 2 in the second half of the year. Together with the improvements to aluminum in the battery tray, we’re expecting to see a total reduction of around 2,976lbs (1,350kg) per car.”
Other improvements, like the use of cruelty-free interior materials, are being added. Polestar parent company Volvo announced that it would use “vegan” leather in all of its EVs, starting with the C40 Recharge. The Polestar 2 will also have two new exterior colors, Space (Metallic Black) and Jupiter (Gold-Grey with Red Flake).
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- Polestar 2 in “Space”
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- Polestar 2 in “Space”
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- Polestar 2 in “Jupiter”
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- Polestar 2 in “Jupiter”
Here are each of the changes that will be applied to the Polestar 2:
- New exterior colors: Space (metallic black) and Jupiter (gold-grey with red flake)
- New designs for the standard 19-inch and optional 20-inch wheels
- New Zinc grey color for ventilated Nappa leather upholstery, available with a new Light Ash deco trim
- Removable sunshade for the panoramic glass roof (also available as an accessory for all Polestar 2 with glass roof)
- The mechanical heat pump (included in Plus Pack) has an improved optimal temperature range, now between 20°F and 77°F (-7°C and 25°C), increasing real-world vehicle range in adverse conditions.
- Introduction of an advanced cabin filter and upgraded interior particulate matter sensor with new in-car app that quantifies exterior air quality improvement in the cabin
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- Polestar 2’s new cruelty-free interiors will be included on the updated version of the vehicle
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- Polestar 2’s new cruelty-free interiors will be included on the updated version of the vehicle
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- Polestar 2’s new cruelty-free interiors will be included on the updated version of the vehicle
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- Polestar 2’s new cruelty-free interiors will be included on the updated version of the vehicle
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- Polestar 2’s new cruelty-free interiors will be included on the updated version of the vehicle
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- Polestar 2’s new cruelty-free interiors will be included on the updated version of the vehicle
Pricing, updated range ratings, and availability for the North American market will be announced in the coming weeks, Polestar said.
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Elon Musk has updated his timeline for when humans will walk on Mars and for when ships will simply get there.
The objective of getting to Mars has been one of Musk’s biggest goals since becoming a serial entrepreneur and realizing that time on Earth is limited. Musk has said several times he hopes to die on Mars, and not by impact.
Musk now believes that people will be on Mars in “roughly 5 to 7 years.” He said that a Mars lander will get there “a few years sooner.”
People on Mars in roughly 5 to 7 years.
Mars lander a few years sooner.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 29, 2026
The response from Musk comes after NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said that SpaceX’s biggest priority is the Moon and not Mars. Because of this, Isaacman conceded that he believes nuclear power and propulsion investments will provide “potentially the pathway with the fewest miracles required to put four people on Mars in the next 10 to 15 years.”
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Of course, this is what NASA can do through taxpayer funding and nuclear investments, he added.
Musk’s grand ambitions are much more optimistic than most, and it is certainly a double-edged sword. This is not the first time timelines for Mars have been somewhat lofty, especially to those normal thinkers like you and me, not super geniuses like Musk.
In fact, the SpaceX and Tesla frontman has said on at least a dozen occasions that we could be on Mars in the coming years. Musk said 2020 would be the big year as early as 2009. In 2020, he was “highly confident” of a landing in 2026, and had even said 2024 in a best-case scenario.
The point is, the range has varied, and it’s anyone’s guess when we’ll get there. This latest adjustment to the timeline is typical of Musk, and while the Moon has seemingly taken priority over Mars, it is still worth mentioning that the ultimate goal is to make life multiplanetary, and it starts potentially with the Red Planet.
SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) got an absolutely crazy price target rating from Raymond James after the company experienced a tough first few weeks following its Initial Public Offering (IPO).
Despite the tumultuous start, SpaceX has plenty of believers, and the company’s massively successful Starship launch last Friday, its 13th test flight of the massive rocket, went so smoothly that Raymond James analysts pushed its price target on the company to roughly 7 times its current trading level.
SpaceX Starship just nailed something it’s never done before
The firm officially put a “Strong Buy” rating and an $800 price target on the stock. It currently trades at around $113. Its all-time high is $225.64, reaching this trading level shortly after shares first went public.
Raymond James’ price target is tied to the firm’s confidence after Starship’s 13th test flight. Analysts at the firm said it was an incremental step that reduces engineering risks, citing the widely successful heat shield test that CEO Elon Musk recently detailed, the smooth deployment of Starlink V3 satellites, and a successful in-space engine relight.
SpaceX also managed to see Starship splash down safely in the Indian Ocean, while the Super Heavy Booster fell down to the Gulf of America with no incidents.
It is interesting to see these launches have such a tremendous impact on the stock and what investors think of it. After SpaceX initially delayed the Starship launch last week, shares fell tremendously. Most probably did not realize that the stand-down is a standard practice, especially if everything is not perfect.
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The mission was initially aborted due to an issue with Raptor engines. This was resolved, and Starship launched last Friday after another delay on Thursday, which was caused by weather.
Now that analysts have seen what SpaceX launches are capable of and how impressive the feat is, firms are adjusting their price targets accordingly, making it known that they have high expectations for the space exploration company.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has responded to reports that Volvo is officially discontinuing the LiDAR sensor on two of its cars.
Volvo announced that it would officially scrap LiDAR systems on its EX90 and ES90 vehicles in various markets. In Norway, owners will get a €1,800 compensation for features that will never arrive due to this decision. There will be no option to remove the unit from vehicles, either.
The issue stems from Volvo’s supplier, Luminar, and its bankruptcy filing. Luminar will no longer be able to supply LiDAR units to Volvo for the EX90 and ES90, effectively axing any use the unit has on vehicles. Volvo will phase out the data collection processes via the LiDAR system, and it will not be utilized whatsoever.
Musk saw the story on X and responded, stating:
“I did try to warn them. Humans drive using neural nets and optical sensors. Same is true for robot cars.”
I did try to warn them.
Humans drive using neural nets and optical sensors. Same is true for robot cars.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 29, 2026
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Musk has been publicly vocal about his disdain for LiDAR systems, once calling them “a fool’s errand,” as he has consistently kept the outlook that they are not needed for effective self-driving.
The typical example used as evidence for this by Musk is humans themselves: made with only eyes and memories, humans are capable of navigating a car by using what they can see and what they’ve personally experienced on the road.
Elon Musk argues lidar and radar make self driving cars more dangerous
“Same is true for robot cars,” Musk says, as Teslas have eight exterior cameras that help see everything surrounding the vehicle, and a neural network that analyzes behavior and tendencies with every mile driven.
Tesla is a vision-only self-driving company that ditched sensors and radar several years ago in favor of cameras. Behind this effort, the company has established a reputation for having one of the most robust self-driving platforms in the world.
Musk’s big bet with Tesla on its self-driving program’s strategy has widely paid off. Other companies continue to utilize things like LiDAR, radar, and sensors for effective self-driving, but Tesla has shown that there is more than one way to give consumers a strong and accurate driver assistance suite.
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The real question is: who will be the first company to take Musk’s advice and attempt a self-driving platform based on cameras only, or even license FSD for themselves?
Elon Musk updates the SpaceX timeline for Mars
SpaceX gets an absolutely crazy price target after rough IPO
