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Polestar 2 with 275-mile range goes on sale in US via online configurator

Polestar 2 online configurator

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Volvo and Geely-owned company Polestar has announced a $59,900 starting price for its Polestar 2 all-electric sedan.

The company announced European pricing for its electric car in October: £49,900 in the U.K. and €58,000 in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. During the same press release, Polestar indicated a $63,000 price point for its vehicle in the U.S., but it managed to undercut this target by just over $3,000. Head of Polestar USA, Gregor Hembrough stated, “The MSRP is lower than we originally targeted, and will be extended to all of our current reservation holders.”

Additionally, the Polestar 2 will have multiple upgrades available for an additional cost. These include a $5,000 performance pack that upgrades suspension and braking within the vehicle, Nappa interior leather upgrades for $4,000, 20-inch alloy wheels for $1,200, and Premium Metallic paint colors for $1,200.

Production of the Polestar 2 began in late March 2020. U.S. deliveries will start in Summer 2020 for those who hold a reservation for the car, but it is unknown if the current COVID-19 pandemic will delay the timeframe for deliveries.

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Polestar will offer one powertrain option for U.S. owners initially. With a 78 kWh battery pack powering a dual electric motor system, the car will produce 408 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque. The Polestar 2’s range is 275 miles, according to EPA tests.

The Polestar 2 will also utilize a built-in infotainment system powered by Android and Google Assistant, a first for an automaker. The car will also use Google Maps for GPS navigation and application downloads through the Google Play Store.

Polestar also launched a mobile app in March 2019 that aims to ease the pressure of the car buying process. “We are making it hassle-free and easier for customers to engage with the Polestar brand and enjoy their car. From finding out information about Polestar cars, through to subscribing for a new Polestar, all the way to starting your car using our Phone-as-Key technology – everything can be done through your mobile device,” Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said.

The vehicle is currently available for purchase exclusively on Polestar.com. However, the company plans to begin opening physical retail showrooms, known as Polestar Spaces, where a specialist will give interested customers information on the Polestar 2. The stores will first be available on the West Coast and New York City around the same time as initial deliveries, but more locations will open in the future.

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The car is available for purchase in all 50 states, and Polestar plans to release details that will describe leasing and financing options soon, according to a company release.

While some enthusiasts label the Polestar 2 as a rival of the Tesla Model 3, it is crucial to remember Elon Musk’s thoughts on competition within the electric car sector. While it is undoubtedly essential for companies to try and beat their competitors by offering more power, speed, range, or technology, Musk has always indicated that Tesla has no competitors who make electric cars.

The competition lies within companies that have no plans to initiate a transition into an electric future. Polestar plans to enter the electric car industry by offering a quality vehicle that could make the company a striking force within the BEV community.

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Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

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Tesla China posts strong February wholesale growth at Gigafactory Shanghai

The update was shared by Tesla observers on social media platform X, citing monthly China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data.

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Credit: Grace Tao/Weibo

Tesla China sold 58,599 vehicles wholesale in February, reflecting strong year-over-year growth. The figure includes both domestic deliveries in China and vehicles exported to international markets.

The update was shared by Tesla observers on social media platform X, citing monthly China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data.

Tesla’s February wholesale result represents a 91% increase year over year, compared with 30,688 vehicles in February 2025. Month over month, the result was down 15.2% from January, when Tesla China recorded 69,129 wholesale units.

The February total reflects combined sales of the Model 3 and Model Y produced at Gigafactory Shanghai. The facility produces the two vehicles for both domestic sales and exports.

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Gigafactory Shanghai continues to serve as Tesla’s primary vehicle export hub, supplying vehicles to markets across Asia and Europe. Data compiled by Tesla watchers shows that 18,485 vehicles were sold domestically in China in January 2026, while exports accounted for 50,644 units during the same period.

Tesla has also been extending financing programs in China as it pushes to strengthen domestic demand. The company recently extended its seven-year ultra-low-interest and five-year interest-free financing programs through March 31, marking the second extension of the promotion this year.

The financing initiative was first introduced on January 6 as a strategy aimed at offsetting higher ownership costs ahead of China’s planned 5% NEV purchase tax in 2026. The promotion was originally scheduled to expire at the end of January before being extended to February and then again through the end of the first quarter.

Tesla’s efforts come amid growing competition in China’s EV market. According to data compiled by CNEV Post, Tesla’s 2025 retail sales in China reached 625,698 vehicles, representing a 4.78% year-over-year decline. Part of that decline was linked to the Model Y changeover to its updated variant in early 2025, which temporarily reduced deliveries during the transition period.

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Tesla Model Y L spotted on transport trucks in Australia

One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier. 

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Tesla’s upcoming Model Y L has been spotted on transport trucks in Australia. Sightings of the six-seat extended wheelbase Model Y variant have been reported on social media platform X by members of the Australian Tesla community.

One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier. 

The sighting follows earlier observations by Tesla enthusiasts in Sydney, where a covered vehicle believed to be a Model Y L was spotted at a Supercharger.

The Sydney sighting drew attention after observers noted that the vehicle’s tare weight appeared to match the ADR approval listing for the Model Y L, suggesting it could indeed be the extended wheelbase variant of the electric SUV.

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Tesla has previously confirmed that the Model Y L will launch in Australia and New Zealand in 2026. The confirmation was reported by techAU following a media release from Tesla Australia and New Zealand.

The Model Y L expands the existing Model Y lineup with seating for six passengers. The vehicle features a longer body compared with the standard Model Y in order to accommodate a spacious second and third row.

Tesla has opted for a 2-2-2 seating configuration instead of a traditional seven-seat layout for the Model Y L. The design includes two individual seats in the middle row to provide easier access to the third row and additional passenger space.

Tesla Australia and New Zealand has also stated that the Model Y L will be covered under the company’s updated warranty structure beginning in 2026.

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Tesla has not yet announced pricing or official range figures for the Model Y L in Australia.

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Elon Musk shares timeframe for X Money early public access rollout

X Money is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.

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Credit: UK Government, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Elon Musk has stated that X Money, the digital payments system being developed for social media platform X, is expected to enter early public access next month. 

The update was shared by Musk in a post on X. “𝕏 Money early public access will launch next month,” Musk wrote in his post.

As noted in a Reuters report, X Money is being developed as a digital payment service that’s directly integrated into the X platform. 

The system is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.

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Musk has previously discussed plans to introduce payments and financial services as part of X’s broader development.

Since acquiring the platform in 2022, Musk has discussed expanding X to include a range of services such as messaging, media, and financial tools.

Elon Musk has shared his goal of transforming X into an “everything app.” During a previous podcast interview with members of the Tesla community, Musk mused about turning X into something similar to China’s WeChat, which allows users to shop, pay, communicate, and perform a variety of other tasks.

“In China, you do everything in WeChat… it’s kickass… Outside of China, there’s nothing like it, people live on one app. My idea would be like how about if we just copy WeChat,” Musk joked at the time.

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To prepare for the rollout of X Money, X has partnered with payment company Visa to support the development of payment services for the platform’s users. The move could allow X to tap into the growing demand for digital and in-app financial transactions as the company builds additional services around its existing user base.

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