News
Polestar announces pricing for 2023 Polestar 2, along with numerous improvements
Polestar announced pricing for the 2023 Polestar 2, which will start at below $50,000 before any rebates or federal tax incentives. The Swedish automaker also included several new design and efficiency improvements in the 2023 model year, which will make the EV more competitive with other notable cars in the sector thanks to its improved range.
The 2023 Polestar 2 Single Motor configuration will start at just $48,400, or $40,900 when the $7,500 federal tax rebate is included with the vehicle. A competitive price point for the all-electric sedan, Polestar will undercut both of Tesla’s All-Wheel-Drive trim levels of the Model 3, which are priced at $55,990 for the Long Range configuration and $62,990 for the Performance package.
Software improvements rolled out by Polestar have the company anticipating a range increase of the dual-motor configurations of the vehicle by eleven miles. This will bring the EPA-estimated range for the 2023 Polestar 2 to 260 miles per charge. Polestar also included a number of design benefits and new upgrades that intend to improve efficiency and range ratings, with the most notable being the inclusion of a heat pump in the Plus Pack.
The mechanical heat pump is designed to now deliver range improvements in a wider range of temperatures and climates, which can affect EV performance. Cold weather climates are not friendly to all-electric powertrains because it requires more energy to heat the battery cells, which takes away from the driving range. Additionally, climate control features can also decrease efficiency and range. The heat pump helps combat the range loss by using already-heated air in the cabin, among several other mechanical functions that increase overall vehicle efficiency. Tesla was amongst the first EV manufacturers to utilize the heat pump in early builds of the Model Y. The company then translated the proven heat pump system to the Model 3.
Polestar will continue to roll out Over-the-Air updates to upgrade existing Polestar 2 cars equipped with the heat pump at no additional cost to owners.
The Polestar 2 will have optional “packs” that are optional add-ons for owners. The Plus Pack, Pilot Pack, and the Performance Pack both give owners additional features that can improve the ownership experience. The Plus Pack now includes an advanced cabin air filter helping improve air quality within the vehicle. A new air quality sensor and app will also allow drivers to see a breakdown of air circulating outside o the vehicle, including pollen types. The Plus pack adds $4,200 to the vehicle price.
-
- Credit: Polestar
-
- Polestar 2 in “Space”
The Pilot Pack is comparable to Tesla’s Autopilot and includes Blind Spot Assist, Cross-Traffic Alerts, Rear Collision Warnings with Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pilot Assist, 360° cameras, Automatically dimmed door mirrors, Park Assist, and LED fog lights with cornering functionalities. It costs $3,400 for this package.
The Performance Pack for the 2023 Polestar 2 will equip 68 additional horsepower and 15 lb-ft of torque to the car through a software upgrade. It is only available on Dual-Motor configurations of the car, but the software will be able to purchase as a separate software upgrade — for both existing and future dual-motor cars, with and without the Performance Pack. Polestar plans to release more information on the add-ons this year.
Deliveries of the 2023 Polestar 2 will begin in September with the Single-Motor configuration priced at $48,400. The 2023 Long Range Dual Motor configuration of the Polestar 2 will start at $51,900, with both vehicles eligible for the $7,500 federal EV credit initiative.
I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.
SpaceX’s Starlink product has just gotten its latest airline adoptee, and the move marks the successful partnership of three of the “Big Four” U.S. airlines.
American Airlines announced on Tuesday that it would utilize Starlink in more than 500 narrowbody aircraft beginning in the first quarter of 2027. These include the Airbus aircraft in its fleet, including the new A321XLR and A321neo.
With the new partnership with American Airlines, Starlink is now present on three of the largest airlines in the country: American, United, and Southwest.
Starlink gets its latest airline adoptee for stable and reliable internet access
Starlink’s VP of Enterprise Sales, Jason Fritch, said:
“We are proud to bring Starlink on board American Airlines, delivering fast and reliable internet to passengers and crew. Whether traveling for leisure or business, Starlink enables a fully connected experience gate to gate, making every flight smoother and more enjoyable.”
Additionally, American Airlines Chief Customer Officer, Heather Garboden, said:
“As a premium global airline, we are continuously seeking out world-class partners like Starlink to deliver what our customers need and want. The addition of Starlink solidifies American as a leading airline in keeping passengers connected in flight.”
Starlink has been on a tear over the past year, as it has continued to be adopted by a wide variety of airlines as a more consistent and reliable way to provide WiFi to its passengers. It has already gained a great reputation among residential users, but its biggest commercial application appears to be how it is being used in the air.
American Airlines will adopt Starlink on more than 500 of its narrowbody aircraft beginning in Q1 2027
“As a premium global airline, we are continuously seeking out world-class partners like Starlink to deliver what our customers need and want,” said American Airlines Chief… pic.twitter.com/XY2wflycc0
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) May 26, 2026
The only airline of the Big Four not to adopt Starlink thus far is Delta, which chose to opt for the alternative, which is Amazon Leo. CEO Ed Bastian said to Bloomberg that Delta chose Amazon’s product over Starlink’s because “the opportunities, in terms of the improved bandwidth with a much lower price point than what we’ve ever seen from Starlink, will make a big difference.”
Delta will not start installing Amazon Leo until 2028.
“Of course, we expect Starlink will be warning people that we’re going to go with an inferior product,” Bastian said. “But I’m not too worried about partnering with Amazon.”
Tesla Cybertruck’s newest trim level is nearing its first deliveries just a few months after being offered for an incredible deal.
Back in February, Tesla officially launched a new trim of the Cybertruck, the All-Wheel-Drive, starting at just $59,990. It was a lot of truck for the money, especially considering what it offered the Rear-Wheel-Drive variant for last year, which was a total flop.
The $59,990 price that was offered initially was a deal due to its 325-mile range rating, powered tonneau, three bed outlets, Powershare capability, coil springs with adaptive damping for a refined suspension feel, Steer-by-Wire and four-wheel steering, a 6′ x 4′ composite bed, towing capacity of 7,500 pounds, and a powered frunk.
Tesla is now nearing deliveries of this trim, according to watcher Sawyer Merritt, as Tesla has officially started assigning VINs to people who ordered the vehicle initially:
I can confirm that Tesla has officially started assigning VINs to people who initially ordered the $59,990 Cybertruck Dual-Motor AWD, which means first deliveries should start in the coming weeks!
• 325 mile range
• 7,500 lb towing capacity
• 0-60mph: 4.1s
• Bed with… pic.twitter.com/PQwVYbZf6j— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) May 24, 2026
Earlier this month, we reported on units of the trim being spotted outside Gigafactory Texas by Joe Tegtmeyer.
Tesla Giga Texas buzzing as new Cybertruck appears to enter production
This Cybertruck trim was interesting because it was released basically out of nowhere, priced incredibly well, and gathered many orders in a small amount of time. However, CEO Elon Musk noted just days afterward that the vehicle would only be priced at this bargain level for ten days.
Tesla fans were not happy.
Awful way to treat customers – particularly when they already sent out a marketing email announcing the $59,990 truck…with zero mention of it being a limited-time offer.
— Ryan McCaffrey (@DMC_Ryan) February 24, 2026
However, the issues with the pricing strategy have blown over since the February unveiling event, and now that deliveries are near, Tesla fans are anticipating the truck making its way to their driveways soon.
The truck is currently priced at $69,990, and deliveries for new orders are slated for between August and September 2026.
Tesla is shipping a new feature that silences neighborhood Supercharger complaints, prompting drivers to be aware of those who might be impacted by excessive noise nearby.
Tesla is now rolling out a new location-specific “Quiet Charging Zone” that prompts drivers to lower their vehicle’s audio volume in an effort to make things comfortable for everyone, even those who are not Tesla owners.
Another beautiful example of Tesla’s vertical integration.
Neighbors were complaining about noise and commotion at this new Supercharger in San Francisco.
So Tesla pushed a software update that asks people to turn their volume down, with a button to do it in 1 tap. Smart. pic.twitter.com/8esuliuzwr
— Whole Mars Catalog (@wholemars) May 20, 2026
This is an impactful feature that will resolve many complaints from those who are living nearby.
When a Tesla plugs into this Supercharger and its media volume exceeds a certain level, the vehicle’s central touchscreen displays a polite notification: “Could you turn the volume down? Please be mindful of our neighbors.”
Accompanying the message is a prominent “Lower” button. One tap automatically reduces the audio to a more considerate level. Physical “Quiet Charging Zone” signs posted at the station reinforce the request, creating a cohesive experience that blends digital nudges with on-site reminders.
This feature highlights Tesla’s unique advantages. Unlike traditional automakers, Tesla owns both the vehicle software and the charging infrastructure.
Engineers can detect the precise location via GPS, trigger context-aware prompts, and deploy changes fleet-wide in hours or days without recalls or dealer visits. No public release notes highlighted the change, suggesting it was a quiet, site-specific rollout designed to test effectiveness before potential expansion.
These are usually referred to as “Undocumented Changes.”
Beyond immediate noise reduction, the initiative underscores Tesla’s customer- and community-focused ethos. While EVs are inherently quieter than combustion-engine vehicles, auxiliary behaviors like loud infotainment can still create friction in dense cities. Tesla’s rapid response turns potential conflict into an opportunity to demonstrate thoughtful engineering.
As Tesla expands its Supercharger network, which is now open to other EVs in many places, features like location-based quiet modes could become standard tools for harmonious integration into neighborhoods.
SpaceX Starlink gets its latest airline adoptee, grabbing three of the ‘Big Four’
Tesla Cybertruck’s newest trim is nearing its first deliveries
