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In today’s world where the era of peak car may already be in the past and the current situation is a climate crisis, the automotive industry is aware of an impending challenge. Companies that cannot manufacture cars that do not worsen environmental issues—and even make a profit while doing so—might not have a bright future, and could struggle to survive the transition. Polestar, a spinoff of Volvo owned by Geely, aims to be one of the survivors by announcing a target to produce what it terms as the “first genuine climate-neutral car by 2030.”
Polestar made this declaration along with its intentions to release sustainability statements regarding its Polestar 2 EV in its inaugural annual sustainability report, which was published on Wednesday. In a corresponding announcement, Polestar executives emphasized the significance of car manufacturers taking responsibility for the environmental impact generated by their industry, with CEO Thomas Ingenlath even criticizing carbon offsetting as a “cop-out.”
Polestar Precept concept, Polestar
“As we operate on electricity, we are free from the concerns of combustion engines emitting harmful substances—but our mission is far from accomplished,” stated Polestar’s Head of Sustainability, Fredrika Klarén. “We are now focused on eliminating all emissions arising from the manufacturing of our vehicles.”
“This is a groundbreaking and thrilling period for car makers, presenting an opportunity to seize the moment, strive for improvement, and have the courage to create the vision of climate-neutral, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing vehicles,” she added.
A representative from Polestar clarified to The Drive that their interpretation of “climate-neutral” encompasses “all climate-related emissions (not limited to carbon),” and takes into consideration “factors such as radiation forcing.” However, at the time of contact, details of their plans were not yet disclosed, except that they are committed to engaging in measures for climate impact reduction that exceed simply buying carbon credits from other companies.
“Offsetting through tree planting and purchasing carbon credits are commonly observed practices among competitors,” a Polestar spokesperson noted. “Our plans involve more radical and/or distinct approaches, which will be revealed gradually once we are certain we can fully implement them.”
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