Η Volvo εξαγόρασε την Polestar τον περασμένο Ιούλιο, με τον πρόεδρο της εταιρίας Hakan Samuelsson να δηλώνει πως η εταιρία θα συνεχίσει να λειτουργεί ως μια δυναμική και ανεξάρτητη επιχείρηση υπό την ιδιοκτησία της Volvo.
Η Polestar θα συνεχίσει να έχει την δική της ομάδα διαχείρισης και ελέγχου των πωλήσεων, δικό της τμήμα μάρκετινγκ, δική της στρατηγική προϊόντων και δικό της τμήμα έρευνας και ανάπτυξης. Παράλληλα ανακοινώθηκε πως η Polestar θα συνεχίσει να τρέχει σε αγώνες ταχύτητας, συμπεριλαμβανομένου του Σκανδιναβικού Πρωταθλήματος Αυτοκινήτων Τουρισμού (STCC) για το 2016.
H Volvo τονίζει πως η Polestar θα προσφέρει πλέον περισσότερα μοντέλα υψηλών επιδόσεων της Volvo, αλλά και περισσότερα αξεσουάρ που θα αντλούν στοιχεία από τα προγράμματα μηχανοκίνητου αθλητισμού που θα συμμετέχει.
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Polestar to remain “dynamic and independent” under Volvo control
Polestar, the performance brand of Volvo Cars, will operate as a dynamic and independent enterprise under Volvo Cars’ ownership, according to Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars.
Polestar will have its own management team and will control its own product strategy, research and development, as well as marketing and sales, Mr Samuelsson said.
Polestar will also continue its motorsport activity in the 2016 Scandinavian Touring Car Championship alongside Cyan Racing, the new racing team set up by Christian Dahl.
“I am keen for Polestar to remain as entrepreneurial as possible,” said Mr Samuelsson. “We want Polestar to build on its racing heritage and strengthen its brand by pushing the limits in terms of engineering and technology. The best way to achieve this was for it to work as an independent unit.”
Polestar’s management currently comprises Björn Sällström as chief executive and Niels Möller as chief product officer, reporting to a Board of Directors comprising senior Volvo executive managers.
Volvo Cars acquired 100 per cent of Polestar in July 2015. The two main business areas of Polestar, cars and accessories, will be expanded further and continue to be tied closely with the motorsport programmes in terms of technical development.
In 2015, Volvo expects to sell 750 Polestar versions of the V60 wagon and S60 sedan globally. Polestar sales are forecast to increase to between 1,000 and 1,500 cars a year in the medium term under Volvo’s ownership.
Notes to editors:
Volvo has acquired Polestar Performance AB, which comprises performance activities including performance-edition cars and performance drivetrain optimisations, as well as Polestar Holding AB, which is the owner of the Polestar trademarks. Volvo has not acquired the racing division of Polestar, now named Cyan Racing and owned by Christian Dahl. Polestar is Volvo Cars Performance Division and Cyan Racing is the official motorsport partner to Polestar.
The Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar feature a 350 horsepower T6 engine, making the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 4.9 seconds, and an extensively developed chassis. The car demonstrates Volvo and Polestar’s engineering philosophy of delivering an engaging, precise and confident driving experience.
The new generation Polestar Performance Optimisations offer increased mid-range engine performance in combination with supporting changes for the gearbox and throttle response to make the car more dynamic and responsive to drive.
Polestar confirms multi-year STCC programme with Cyan Racing
Polestar, the performance brand of Volvo Cars, will be on the grid of the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship in 2016 with Cyan Racing and two Volvo S60 race cars driven by Prince Carl Philip and a yet-to-be-named driver.
Polestar has joined forces with Cyan Racing under the team name Polestar Cyan Racing. Cyan Racing is owned and operated by Christian Dahl, the former owner of Polestar before it was sold to Volvo Cars in July this year.
Polestar and Volvo are old friends, having raced together since 1996, winning the drivers’ championship five times and teams’ championship seven times.
“We are very happy to continue racing in our home market championship and with Prince Carl Philip. This championship and our drivers are a part of Polestar’s heritage, and we wish to continue to build on that,” said Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin, Vice President and Head of Motorsport at Polestar.
Polestar Cyan Racing has already won the 2015 STCC teams’ championship after the races in Karlskoga and has a double lead in the drivers’ championship ahead of the season finale at Knutstorp on September 25-26th.
“Our sights today are set on securing a new double title. That will also be our ambition in 2016 and in following years. Next year will be our 21st season in Swedish motorsport, a true milestone for us,” said Christian Dahl, Chief Executive of Cyan Racing.
Prince Carl Philip will start his fourth STCC season in 2016, following a record-breaking season in 2015 where he scored a maiden victory and broke into the top 10 of the driver standings.
“The 2015 STCC season has exceeded my expectations and I am very pleased to confirm a continued programme this early. My ambition is of course to step up my performance and results even further next year,” said Prince Carl Philip.
The identity of the second Polestar Cyan Racing driver will be released in due course.
Note to editors about Polestar Cyan Racing:
Volvo has acquired Polestar Performance AB, which comprises performance activities including performance edition cars and performance drivetrain optimisations, as well as Polestar Holding AB, which is the owner of the Polestar trademarks. Volvo has not acquired the racing division of Polestar, now named Cyan Racing and owned by Christian Dahl. Polestar is Volvo Cars Performance Division and Cyan Racing is the official motorsport partner to Polestar.
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