New Polestar 2 may come after 7 but before 6, yet the brand says its model names aren’t confusing

The boss of Polestar has knocked back suggestions that its model naming structure – linked to when each car launched, not its size – is confusing customers, nor that its introduction was a mistake.

It comes as the Volvo electric-car spin-off prepares to launch the Polestar 6 after the Polestar 7 – and could add a new generation of the Polestar 2 sedan, its second-ever car, in between.

Polestar vehicles are named in the order in which they were announced, commencing with the 2017 Polestar 1 coupe, and followed by the 2020 Polestar 2 sedan, 2024 Polestar 3 large SUV, 2024 Polestar 4 sedan/SUV, and 2026 Polestar 5 sedan.

It's a departure from key rivals, which name vehicles by size, so customers can easily understand that a BMW 3 Series is smaller than a 5 Series, or that an Audi A4 slots below an A6.

Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller refuted suggestions by Australian media in Munich that the naming structure is confusing customers.

"No, not at all, because, I mean, the philosophy was introduced by Apple – they have the same. So whenever something is launched or being presented, they give it a [new] name.

"Now you can argue a little bit [about] the Polestar 6 [delayed beyond the Polestar 7] – because we haven't launched it, but it was announced. That's why we can't say 'oops, the Polestar 6 is now Polestar 9' or whatever.

"But, frankly speaking, that's not what customers worry about.

"I mean, it's interesting, because I get this question in every, every, every roundtable, and extensively. Customers, they just love their car, they love the design, they're interested in the price, and they want to know that's a Polestar, and drives like a Polestar."

When given anecdotal examples of struggles in understanding where each Polestar model fits, Lohscheller said: "No, but if our community would give me that feedback, I would agree with you.

"We obviously had that debate when I joined, and I said 'hey, why how do we count like this?' ... It's decided, it will stay like this.

"So far, customers have not brought that back and said 'hey, look, make the Polestar 6 a Polestar 9', or whatever."

Asked if the naming structure – conceived under his predecessor Thomas Ingenlath – was a mistake, the executive said:

"Well, I would turn it around. I would say to change it now is not a good idea, because it would probably even create more confusion."

It was previously understood that new generations of current Polestar vehicles would adopt a fresh name to set them apart, with Ingenlath telling Drive 18 months ago it is "a little bit ... a philosophy" that "we will not replace a Polestar 2 with a Polestar 2".

Lohscheller said the current plan is for the next-generation Polestar 2 to remain the Polestar 2, claiming that it has always been the intention.

It places Polestar in an awkward spot, as the new Polestar 2 is confirmed to follow the Polestar 7 SUV, due in early 2028 – but may precede the Polestar 6 sports car, previously scheduled for 2026 but currently on ice.

"Polestar 2 will have a successor, because it goes back to that car," said the Polestar boss.

"If it was a new [type of] car, then we could argue 'is that a Polestar 8?', but that's not the case. And that I mean indicates that we obviously want to keep the Polestar 2 customers, right?"

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Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner

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