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Polestar Forms JV With Xingji Meizu To Develop OS For China Market

Swedish EV maker aims to strengthen its position in China, where Xingji will also be the sole sales and service entity.
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Swedish electric car brand  Polestar Automotive Holding UK PLC (NASDAQ:PSNY) said on Monday its unit is entering a joint venture with Chinese technology company Xingji Meizu Group to develop an operating system for Polestar cars sold in China. The JV aims to strengthen Polestar’s position in the competitive Chinese market.

While Polestar will own 49% of the JV company, Xingji will own the rest. Xingji will also be responsible for arranging future funding of the JV company beyond the initial capital.

A Polestar 2 electric sedan is on display during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) on April 19, 2023 in Shanghai, China.  The aim is to strengthen Polestar’s position in the competitive Chinese market.  VCG/VCG/GETTY IMAGES 

Further, the new company will be the sole authorized Polestar sales and service entity in China. About 130 commercial staff of Polestar will be transferred to the new company.

The new operating system will be based on Xingji’s existing technology platform Flyme Auto. However, Polestar vehicles outside of China will continue to have infotainment systems powered by Google’s Android Automotive OS, the company said.

Xingji was founded by Geely Holding Group (OTC:GELYF) (OTC:GELYY) Chairman Eric (Shufu) Li. Geely is also the owner of Polestar.

China is one of the fastest-growing EV markets in the world and also a market of increasing levels of integration between consumer electronics devices and vehicles, said Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath.

A large number of export vehicles are assembled at the port of Yantai to be shipped by ro-ro vehicles in Yantai, Shandong province, China, June 5, 2023. China is one of the fastest-growing EV markets in the world and also a market of increasing levels of integration between consumer electronics devices and vehicles. COSTFOTO/GETTY IMAGES  

“By partnering with a company that has a strong complementary competence to our own, we will be able to offer the locally tailored user experience that both drivers and passengers expect,” the CEO added.

Earlier this year, popular YouTuber Marques Brownlee named the Polestar as one of his favorite cars in an interview. “I really like the Polestar,” Brownlee said while adding that it is a “solid nice EV made by Volvo” with “good software.” Geely also owns Volvo.

Produced in association with Benzinga

Edited by Maham Javaid and Virginia Van Zandt

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