Orders for Polestar 2 open in Australia ahead of February deliveries

Polestar Australia will open the order books for its Polestar 2 electric fastback on Wednesday, heralding its first foray into the local EV market.

For a nominal $500 fully-refundable deposit, drivers can place an order to peg a place in the queue for the all-electric fastback.

And they’d better be quick – as with other electric newcomers, there is likely to be limited supply in Polestar’s first allocation due to global supply issues and prioritisation of other markets.

“The demand we’re seeing for Polestar 2 test drives Australia-wide has exceeded even our most ambitious estimates, which is testament to the growing interest in electric vehicles locally, and the need for greater consumer choice in the market,” Polestar CEO Samantha Johnson said in a statement.

The opening of the order page follows intense interest for test drives of the electric fastback, which Polestar says have been booking out within days. When The Driven drove it earlier this month we found it had a chilled attitude that will no doubt make it a desirable electric option for those after a compact but powerful package.

The first test drive event for the Polestar 2 was held in Sydney in mid-November, and will be followed by Melbourne and the Gold Coast in December and Brisbane in February.

These “roadshows” will give consumers a chance to see, feel and drive the Polestar 2 – which is priced from $59,900 for a single-motor standard range model, and that will face off the similarly priced Tesla Model 3.

“The roadshow will offer customers their first physical experience of the Polestar brand, both in the manner that the events are activated to the exacting standards found in our bespoke Polestar Spaces and Destinations globally, and, of course, in getting to know the outstanding Polestar 2,” said Johnson.

Until Polestar can open planned Spaces showrooms in 2022, there will also be a number of temporary Polestar spaces that visitors can visit in Bondi Beach in Sydney, Queensbridge Square in Melbourne, Pacific Fair on the Gold Coast and King George Square in Brisbane.

Although the starting price for the Polestar 2 is equal to Tesla’s cheapest Model 3 variant, additional features like panoramic glass, heat pump, power seats, Pilot Assist, performance Brembo brakes and Öhlins dampers can be added in three packages that range from $5,000 to $8,000.

Polestar says it doesn’t mind the comparison with the Tesla Model 3, but states that its real aim is to crack the ICE crowd – those still hanging on to Jurassic internal combustion engine fuel-burners.

How fast they can do this may depend on how fast the first allocation is exhausted, and how many the local arm of Volvo’s sister brand can secure after that.

With new targets announced by the company that will see it aim to double its market reach by 2023 and sell 290,000 electric cars a year by the end of 2025.

With a Polestar 5 now confirmed based on the Precept, the introduction of the Polestar 2 will in the meantime definitely do some of its own damage ending the ICE age.

(Update: An earlier version of the story said that orders would be open on Tuesday, but Polestar informs us that due to tech issues the Polestar order page will be live on Wednesday).