Polestar CEO Doesnt Want The Companys First Ebike To Be A ‘marketing Stunt

© Image: Polestar

Polestar makes its own electric bike. In a recent interview with The Verge , Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath confirmed the company is working with Swedish company Allebike on a two-wheeler and previously a non-electric Polestar mountain bike.

Nevertheless, Ingenlath knows what it's like when a car company goes off the rails, says Ingenlath. "I've always hated the kind of marketing where you buy a bike and then put your brand name on it," Ingenlath said in an interview.

Ingenlath's skepticism is justified. When you hear about a car manufacturer launching their own electric bike, it's often just a brand licensing deal. Think Jeep electric bikes, Hummer bikes from the last decade or the latest Hummer electric bikes. In other cases, it's a highly touted project that eventually falls victim to company cost-cutting, such as: B. the electric bike Ariv from General Motors.

"I've always hated the marketing look of buying a bike and then putting your brand name on it."

Polestar's first electric bike will not have a licensing deal. Pointing to a Polestar mountain bike built by Allebike, he explained, “This frame is actually ours.” Ingenlath says he admires how bike engineers “fight for every gram” when designing frames that can withstand the serious rigors of a bike while doing it keep all components intact.

"So, yeah, that's something we're looking at," he added.

Polestar isn't the only automaker seeing the potential for electric bikes. Porsche recently introduced a pair of high-suspension electric mountain bikes, the Sport and the Cross. In recent months, the German automaker has also acquired two e-bike subsidiaries: Croatian company Greyp and Fazua, an e-bike maker specializing in lightweight bicycles.

BMW has released a pair of production e-bike concepts along with cyberpunk-themed electric mopeds. Dan Rivian has registered a trademark for a new line of electric bikes.

In addition to collaborating with Allebike, Polestar is also collaborating with the electric motorcycle brand Cake on the mopeds of the Swedish company Makka. Both companies call the concept "a new and unique electric mobility package that combines all the on-road capabilities of the Polestar 2 with the convenience of a KAKE Makkah city center," with a photo showing a KAKE moped strapped to the roof. Regal behind Polestar 2 Sedan.

Polestar can sell its new e-bike on similar terms. "I fully support the plurality of mobility," Ingenlath told The Verge . "I really hate when people say, 'Oh, we don't need a car.' I mean obviously we need a car. I like having a car. But I don't want to use it every day. I want to use it when I want.

And he added: "Bikes, buses, all kinds of transport. Mix."

Apple hopes to lose this battle...