Polestar 2 production begins against the odds

Volvo's standalone premium brand, Polestar, has announced that production of the Polestar 2 has begun at its factory in China, ahead of its global launch this July.

While many production facilities around the globe are closed or scaling back car-building, Polestar says its factory at Luqiao, in China's eastern Zhejiang province, will continue its operations following a series of stringent policies.

The five-door fastback Polestar 2, which can tow 1500kg and was previously due to touch down in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2020, will be the car-maker's first vehicle to be sold Down Under since the Polestar 1 coupe won't be produced in right-hand drive.

In 2022, the Polestar 3 will arrive to rival battery-powered SUVs like the upcoming Tesla Model Y.

The Polestar 2 comes with a WLTP-verified cruising range of 500km and is powered by a 78kWh lithium-ion battery driving a pair of electric motors that generate a punchy 300kW and 660Nm – enough for a sub-five-second 0-100km/h sprint.

Inside, the Polestar 2 lifts its minimalist styling cues from the current Volvo range but bags the car-maker's next-gen Android-powered infotainment system, operated through a new 11.0-inch touch-screen.

This means owners will have access to Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play Store, among others.

The Polestar 2 will also come with semi-autonomous cruise control, LED matrix headlights and typical Volvo options like a fully vegan interior.

In markets like the UK, the Polestar 2 is being priced to mirror the cost of the Tesla Model 3, with pricing kicking off at £34,500 ($A69,000).