Volvo's electric sister brand, Polestar, has announced its first "retail location" in the Republic of Ireland, which will open in Dublin tomorrow. The manufacturer describes the news as a way of "formalising" its entry into the Irish market, although the first Irish customers received their cars back in July.
A space odyssey
Because Polestar doesn't like to call its outlets 'dealerships', the new location in Sandyford, just off the M50, is dubbed a 'space'. Rather than being run by a franchise operator, the new space is part of Polestar's own operation because the brand says it is "championing a direct-to-consumer, digital-first sales approach."
The new space will allow would-be customers to learn more about the Polestar brand and get help ordering their new vehicles online. Guests will also be able to take a test drive of the all-electric Polestar 2 fastback on a one-hour route that begins and ends at the Sandyford site.
The new space will open to the public on Saturday, October 29, from 10am.
"Following a period of huge intrigue and enthusiasm from customers over the past few months, I am delighted to be opening the doors to Polestar Dublin," said Kieran Campbell, Market Lead for Polestar Ireland. "We now have a home where we can welcome our guests and share all the benefits of EV ownership and what makes Polestar a unique proposition. With Polestar 2 on sale now and with orders open for Polestar 3, we have a range of performance orientated vehicles with a strong focus on sustainability to suit all customers."
Paying the price
For visitors who decide to purchase a Polestar, the brand has also confirmed a new financing partnership in Ireland, allowing customers to pay for their car on a monthly basis. Polestar says the deal with privately owned Finance Ireland means it can continue its direct-to-consumer, online-only sales approach without middlemen for a "smooth buying experience."
"This partnership with Finance Ireland means that all customers can now purchase their new car via whichever financial means most suited to them when they choose their Polestar online," said Campbell. "Since launching in Ireland earlier this year, we continue to grow, and we look forward to welcoming customers into our Polestar Dublin Space location from the 29th of October."
Spirit of cooperation
Despite the arrival of the new Sandyford space and Polestar's insistence on selling vehicles direct to customers, the brand has also launched a new partnership with one of Ireland's largest motor groups. Under the new agreement, the Spirit Motor Group will oversee the handover of cars and deal with aftersales.
That means Spirit Motor Group will deal with servicing and maintaining Polestar vehicles and delivering cars to new customers. The company hopes its tie-up with Spirit will "further increase consumer confidence in Polestar's future", although it's not yet clear how many of Spirit's sites will deal with Polestar vehicles.