Renault will produce Polestars at its Korean assembly site
- The Renault site in Busan in Korea (a former Samsung Motors factory) has been experiencing real development difficulties for several years. The different models produced on this site have not been very successful. Even the Koléos (D-segment SUV) which was exported to Europe did not have a very successful commercial career.
- The factory's production volume decreased from 280,000 units in 2010 to 120,000 in 2020. The Renault Arkana which has been produced in this factory since 2021 has made it possible to increase to the 150,000 unit mark in 2022. But this model is practically the only one to be produced on this site and in 2022, the factory's production volume fell to 130,000 units, or 50% of its capacity. As a result, the Busan factory was seriously threatened with closure in the medium term.
- Renault's agreements with the Chinese Geely have risen hope for a further revival of the factory's activity. These agreements resulted in the purchase by Geely of 34% of Renault's Korean subsidiary with the aim of producing its battery electric vehicles at the Busan site. Initially, this factory will produce battery electric Polestar models (Polestar is part of the Geely group) and the Polestar 4 will be the first to be produced on this site, from 2025.
- The Polestar 4 is a battery electric D-segment coupe crossover, 4.84 m long, equipped with a 102 kWh battery. The start of production of the Polestar 4 in Busan will benefit the Alpine brand in the short term, as Renault's sports subsidiary wants to use the Geely platform for its future models intended for the American and Asian markets.