Volvo acquires Polestar AB and will be launching their own dedicated performance brand to take on AMG, M, SVR, etc.

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Volvo is taking high performance very seriously these days. This is why they have acquired 100% of Polestar. You might remember the Polestar name from Volvo professional racing efforts as well as a limited number of high performance models Volvo and Polestar would partner on.

As reported in January of this year Volvo planned to produce more Polestar high performance models due to the high demand. Now that Polestar is completely a part of Volvo we can expect Polestar performance models akin to Mercedes AMG models and BMW M models.

These models are expected to incorporate hybrid technology which should be an increasingly common sight in the next few years. Volvo will also offer Polestar parts as factory backed performance parts for existing Volvo models. Polestar employees will now be Volvo employees and the Polestar racing team will be renamed to make this even more clear.

Certainly exciting times for Volvo enthusiasts and performance automotive enthusiasts in general as more automakers put an emphasis on performance brands and models.

Volvo Cars buys 100 per cent of Polestar

Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, has acquired 100 per cent of Polestar, the Swedish high performance car company, including the Polestar brand. Polestar will now be used as the model name for special high performance Volvos.

Polestar will also in future utilise Volvo's twin engine electrification technology to develop next generation performance cars.

Volvo is the largest manufacturer of plug in hybrid cars in Europe and leader in advanced vehicle electrification technology. Volvo currently develops and manufactures some of the most powerful, most environmentally-friendly hybrid engines in the automotive industry.
Volvo S60 Polestar, model year 2016

Volvo and Polestar share a long history. They have been working in motor sport since 1996 and in recent years signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop Polestar versions of Volvo cars that combine a comfortable Volvo driving experience with a very high level of power and handling.

"Driving a Volvo Polestar is a special experience. We have decided to bring this experience to more Volvo drivers, placing the full resources of Volvo behind the development of Polestar as the model name for our high performance cars," said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars.

In 2015, Volvo expects to sell 750 Polestar versions of the V60 wagon and S60 sedan globally. Polestar sales are forecast to increase to between 1,000 and 1,500 cars a year in the medium term under Volvo's ownership.

The Polestar brand is already firmly established internationally through the sale of Polestar-branded Volvos. Volvo will also benefit from the sale of aftermarket Polestar performance optimisation kits for existing Volvos.

No financial details of the deal have been disclosed. Existing Polestar Performance employees will become Volvo employees.

The Polestar racing team will remain under the control of Christian Dahl, the former owner of Polestar, and will be renamed. The Polestar brand will continue to work alongside Christian Dahl.

"We are extremely satisfied with the way the performance business with Volvo has developed. But we are a racing team first and foremost. This is an opportunity to return our full attention to our core business – to develop and race Volvo cars," said Christian Dahl.

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A new V60, Swedish Racing Green, and 500+ HP would be the dream. Now if only they offered manuals...