Volvo is muscling its way into the electric car market with a new vehicle that aims to take on the industry’s biggest players. The Swedish manufacturer’s performance brand Polestar announced a model aimed at the market currently occupied by the Tesla Model 3. Dubbed the Polestar 2, the new five-seater is no loafer – it boasts 408hp and acceleration of 0-100kph in under five seconds. Prices are yet to be confirmed, but reports suggest it would carry a price tag of around $68,000 (Dh250,000). Alongside the Model 3, this makes the Polestar 2 cheaper than most of the electric models launched by traditional manufacturers so far, but both companies have also promised even lower prices in the future. The vehicle will be formally unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The car could be wending its silent way onto roads as soon as 2020, but, despite the growing popularity of electric vehicles in the UAE, the company has no plan for a launch in this country as yet. It can only be a matter of time though – the Middle East is a key market for manufacturers of petrol-avoiding vehicles, a fact underlined by Tesla opening its first dealership in the zone last summer. Similarly, General Motors expects to boost sales in the Mena region with its Chevrolet electric vehicle. The first Bolt EV was sold by the US company in the region last summer, and Dubai Police are now operating a fleet of the models. The UAE's biggest city plans to have 42,000 electric vehicles on its streets by 2030, and its Green Charger initiative plans to double the number of places drivers can recharge their vehicles to 200.
