Polestar announces layoffs of 100 engineers in Gothenburg. The reason is that the new electric car will be built on Volvo's platform. This is viewed as a short-term win for Volvo but a potential loss of influence in the long term.
Polestar, the Swedish electric vehicle brand owned by Geely, has decided to lay off 100 developers in Gothenburg. The cut comes as a result of the company's upcoming electric car being built on a platform from Volvo Cars. According to a commentary in Dagens Nyheter by Jonas Fröberg, this is a victory for Gothenburg in the short term, as Volvo retains more of the development locally.
Fröberg points out that Polestar previously had greater technical influence, but now with brands within the Geely group sharing platforms, it could lead to reduced influence in the long term. 'On short term it's a victory for Gothenburg but on longer term one might lose technical influence when all brands share Geely platforms', he writes.
The announcement of the layoffs comes at a time when the electric vehicle market faces challenges, but details on exact timelines or further consequences are not specified in available sources. Polestar's decision underscores the increasing integration between Volvo and Geely, affecting employment in the Swedish automotive industry.