OHM Group - which is already the Irish importer for Jaguar Land Rover - has announced an expansion of its ties with Polestar.
76 per cent rise in sales
The Chinese-Swedish brand, spun out from Volvo as an all-electric and high-performance marque, has seen a 76 per cent rise in its sales globally since the start of this year thanks largely to the arrival of key new models such as the Polestar 3 large SUV and the Polestar 4, a low-slung crossover. The existing Polestar 2 saloon was also given a major makeover last year, with a switch to rear-wheel drive and a much-extended range.
Polestar was initially set up in Ireland with the assistance of Spirit Motor Group, itself part of OHM, which established the existing temporary Polestar 'Space' in Sandyford, south County Dublin. That 'Space', made up of cleverly-re-used shipping crates, was and is still limited to a single car display inside. Clearly, with a three-car lineup, Polestar now needs more than that.
New dealership opens in Q2
Hence the expansion of the brand's ties with OHM Group as a distributor for Polestar and the announcement of a new, full-sized dealership (which Polestar still refers to as a 'Space'), adjacent to its existing location in Sandyford. That dealership is currently undergoing its final fitting out, and OHM and Polestar say that it's expected to open during the second quarter of the business year.
That new Space will be critical to the brand's performance in Ireland. In late 2024, the 750th Polestar 2 was sold in Ireland, and the expansion of the range with the 3 and 4 will be further bolstered later in 2025 by the arrival of the low-slung, ultra-high-performance Polestar 5 saloon, a rival to the likes of the Porsche Taycan and Mercedes-Benz EQS.
Scott Dicken, Commercial Director Europe at Polestar, said: “Spirit Motor Group has been our committed partner from the start in Ireland. We believe that the best way to develop our presence is to deepen our collaboration with OHM Group taking direct responsibility for the distribution of Polestar cars in Ireland. We have an exciting future with two brand new products on the road and another hero car coming later this year and I am excited to see the growth accelerate together with OHM Group's vast experience and expertise. Customers can expect the usual high levels of service and support going forward.”
'Hugely exciting EV brand'
Gerard O'Farrell, Managing Director of OHM Group's Car Division, added: “We are excited to deepen our relationship with Polestar and take on the distribution responsibility for this hugely exciting EV brand in Ireland. We see a bright future for this distinctive, premium brand in Ireland and are delighted to play a key role in its continued development at a pivotal stage in Ireland's transition to electric vehicles. With the expanded model range, this competitively priced premium brand is poised for growth in Ireland.”
Spirit Motor Group will continue to run the dealership-level operations as Polestar moves away from its original online-only 'agency model' for sales and towards more of a hybrid system, with online sales backed up by a more traditional dealership experience. Alan Moore, Managing Director of Spirit Motor Group, confirmed: “Ireland's exclusive Polestar Space facility will feature the full range of Polestar models, offering our customers a very premium buying experience commensurate with this distinctive brand. We look forward to welcoming many new customers to Polestar Dublin in Sandyford which will be ready during Q2 2025.”
As before, servicing can be carried out at Polestar's other locations, which include Spirit Motor Group garages and its other five service partners in Ireland.