The Polestar Space retail concept allows customers to interact with the all-electric car brand, sister to Volvo, and to meet product specialists and take a test drive of the current sole model in Australia, the Polestar 2.

The Space concept last month won the award for “Most Immersive Brand Home” by global design, technology and transport magazine Wallpaper. The magazine said the retail concept “focuses on inspiration and celebrates spaces, installations, experiences that get straight to the heart of the brand.”

Specialists, rather than salespeople, staff Polestar spaces meaning that there’s room for customers to explore at their own pace and seek expert assistance if required to help with questions without the pressure of a sale.

Polestar Australia managing director Samantha Johnson said: “We are excited to announce the location of our first Polestar Space. Chadstone Shopping Centre is a destination, and Australia’s largest shopping precinct”.

“Our Space concept has been carefully designed to reflect the brand’s minimalist brand philosophy, while presenting a welcoming environment in which customers can experience the all-electric Polestar 2 at leisure.” 

Each Polestar Space is specifically designed to supplement the brand’s digital-first retail model. They use minimalistic, monochrome interiors that focus deliberately chosen materials, while promoting a calm and thoughtful atmosphere to allow customers to interact better with the brand and its cars.

Polestar Space Oslo

Polestar’s head of brand, Par Heyden, said: “Polestar Spaces are carefully curated retail environments. The design reflects Polestar’s minimalist brand philosophy presenting the cars as pieces of art, with detailing that gives visitors new things to experience on every visit.”

The Melbourne Space will be located on the lower ground level at Chadstone Shopping Centre. Opening hours are from 9am – 5.30pm Mon-Wed, 9am – 9pm Th-Sat, and 10am – 7pm on Sunday. Polestar 2 test drives can be booked via the Polstar website. 

The first Space will welcome Polestar’s second model, the 3, around the middle of next year. 

The new premium SUV, which is expected to be priced in the range of $120,000 – $160,000, is similar in size to the Volvo XC90 but has only five seats.

It is targeted at buyers of the Porsche Cayenne, Audi e-Tron, BMW iX and upcoming Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. 

Two variants are proposed for Australia at launch – the 360kW/840Nm long-range dual motor and the 380kW/910Nm “Performance Option”. Polestar claims a range of up to 600km.

Concurrent with the Polestar 3 launch, the company will roll out infrastructure packages of charging stations for owners’ homes and work.

Announcing the Polestar 3 for Australia last month, Ms Johnson said  more sustainability would be built into the Polestar 3 in-line with Polestar’s journey towards its first climate-neutral vehicle in 2030 dubbed Project 0.

Polestar Space Oslo

By Neil Dowling