Polestar aims to dethrone Porsche 911 in dynamic driving with new electric sports car
Polestar (PSNY) is gearing up to launch its new electric sports car, the Polestar 6, in 2026. The Swedish electric vehicle maker calls it “the future of the sports car,” as Polestar wants it to go head-to-head against the Porsche 911 in dynamic driving.
Backed by auto industry veterans Volvo and Geely, Polestar has made an exciting entrance into the electric vehicle market.
With a focus on sustainability, not only from the vehicle’s emissions but throughout its entire life cycle, Polestar is building some of the most eco-friendly cars on the road.
The Polestar 2, the automaker’s first fully electric model, was introduced in 2019 and has continuously built momentum with progressive upgrades each year.
Polestar expanded its portfolio this fall, releasing the Polestar 3, the brand’s first electric SUV with a 300-mile range, in October. As the company’s CEO, Thomas Ingelath, said during the company’s third-quarter earnings:
We [Polestar] are a real [electric] car company, we are in production, we are putting cars on the road today, and we are delivering.
The Polestar 4, the company’s second SUV, is slated to launch in 2023, while its original concept, the Precept, will follow up as the Polestar 5 in 2024.
Meanwhile, the automaker’s 2+2 electric roadster that debuted as the O₂ concept is set to come to life as the Polestar 6, or what they call “a new era for sports cars.” Although Polestar 6 production is planned for 2026, the company is “benchmarking this [electric sports car] against a Porsche.”
Polestar’s electric sports car set to take on Porsche 911, Taycan
According to new details Edward Trinh, Polestar Australia’s Product Planning Manager revealed to Drive at a Melbourne event showcasing the automaker’s electric sports car, the Polestar 6 will Rival Porsche models.
Trinh said at the event:
We’re benchmarking this dynamically against a Porsche. [The] 911, the Taycan – they’re the types of cars we’re looking at. We believe they’re the benchmarks in the industry for vehicle dynamics.
The Polestar 6 will feature a dual motor (884 hp and 663 lb-ft) AWD electric architecture (800V) with a target 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.
Trinh adds Polestar’s R&D team is “incredibly serious” about including superior driving dynamics, stating:
Speaking to the R&D team, we got a bit of insider information from the head of vehicle dynamics for this vehicle [that] they’re looking [into] trick suspension systems.
With Polestar’s performance history, Trinh says, “It needs to handle. Vehicle dynamics is our background, we don’t forget about that heritage.”
The two-door electric sports car will feature an aluminum unibody for maximum strength and ideal weight, often found “on a Mclaren or a Lotus,” according to Trinh. Perhaps, more importantly, all types of aluminum will be labeled “so it’s easy to recycle.”
The automaker’s sustainability mission will be on display in the Polestar 6, as Trinh adds:
It’s not just about carbon neutrality, it’s about circularity, so we’re making cars that are easier to service, easier to repair, easier to recycle.
Electrek’s Take
Can Polestar’s electric roadster dethrone the Porsche 911? Don’t count out Polestar yet, as the company was initially a racing team.
Porsche’s 911 can achieve 0 to 62 mph in under 3 seconds, but Polestar still has a few years to perfect their first electric sports car. EVs offer the opportunity for higher performance with instant torque and acceleration.
Meanwhile, Porsche has also been in the lab creating its own electric sports. What looks like a Porsche 718 Boxster was spotted testing in Germany. (You can read more about that here.)
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Environment
India’s inflation rises to 0.71% in November as decline in food, fuel prices loses steam
EV and battery supply chain research specialists Benchmark Mineral Intelligence reports that 2.0 million electric vehicles were sold globally in November 2025, bringing global EV sales to 18.5 million units year-to-date. That’s a 21% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Europe was the clear growth leader in November, while North America continued to lag following the expiration of US EV tax credits. China, meanwhile, remains the world’s largest EV market by a wide margin.
Europe leads global growth
Europe’s EV market jumped 36% year-over-year in November 2025, with BEV sales up 35% and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales rising 39%. That brings Europe’s total EV sales to 3.8 million units for the year so far, up 33% compared to January–November 2024.
France finally returned to year-to-date growth in November, edging up 1% after spending most of 2025 in the red following earlier subsidy cuts. The rebound was led by OEMs such as the Volkswagen Group and Renault, a wider selection of EV models, and France’s “leasing social” program, aimed at helping lower-income households switch to EVs.
Italy also posted a standout month, logging record EV sales of just under 25,000 units in November. The surge followed the launch of a new incentive program designed to replace older ICE vehicles. The program earmarks €597.3 million (about $700 million) in funding for the replacement of around 39,000 gas cars.
The UK expanded access to its full £3,750 ($4,400) EV subsidy by adding five more eligible models: the Nissan Leaf (built in Sunderland, with deliveries starting in early 2026), the MINI Countryman, Renault 4, Renault 5, and Alpine A290.
US market slows after federal tax credit’s premature death
In North America, EV sales in the US did tick up month-over-month in November, following a sharp October drop after federal tax credits expired on September 30, 2025. Brands including Kia (up 30%), Hyundai (up 20%), Honda (up 11%), and Subaru (232 Solterra sales versus just 13 the month before) all saw gains, but overall volumes remain below levels when the federal tax credit was still available.
Policy changes aren’t helping. In early December, Trump formally “reset” US Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, lowering the required fleetwide average to about 34.5 mpg by 2031. That’s a steep drop from the roughly 50.4 mpg target under the previous rule. Automakers can now meet the standard largely through gas vehicles, reducing pressure to scale BEVs and PHEVs.
Those loosened rules are already reflected in investment decisions, such as Stellantis’ $13 billion plan to expand US production by 50%, with a heavy focus on ICE vehicles. Earlier this year, Trump’s big bill set fines for missing CAFE targets to $0, further weakening the incentive for OEMs to electrify.
That’s some foolish policymaking, considering the world reached peak gas car sales in 2017. The US under Trump will be left behind, just as it will be with its attempts to revive the coal industry.
China still dominates, exports surge
China remains the backbone of global EV sales, even as growth slows. The Chinese market grew 3% year-over-year and 4% month-over-month in November. Year-to-date, EV sales in China are up 19%, with 11.6 million units sold.
One of the biggest headlines out of China is exports. BYD reported a record 131,935 EV exports in November, blowing past its previous high of around 90,000 units set in June. BYD sales in Europe have jumped more than fourfold this year to around 200,000 vehicles, doubled in Southeast Asia, and climbed by more than 50% in South America.
Global snapshot
Global EV sales from January to November 2025 vs January to November 2024, YTD %:
- Global: 18.5 million, +21%
- China: 11.6 million, +19%
- Europe: 3.8 million, +33%
- North America: 1.7 million, -1%
- Rest of World: 1.5 million, +48%
The takeaway: EV demand continues to grow worldwide, but policy support – or the lack thereof – is increasingly shaping where this growth shows up.
“Overall, EV demand remains resilient, supported by expanding model ranges and sustained policy incentives worldwide,” said Rho Motion data manager Charles Lester.
Read more: EV sales *still* have not fallen, cooled, slowed or slumped. Media is lying to you.
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The Elexio is Hyundai’s first electric SUV custom-tailored for the Chinese market, but now it’s headed overseas.
Hyundai is bringing the Elexio electric SUV overseas
Hyundai’s midsize electric SUV was spotted on a carrier truck in Melbourne, Australia, alongside a few of its other vehicles.
Although the Elexio is built by Hyundai’s joint venture with BAIC Motor, Beijing-Hyundai, “tailor-made for Chinese consumers,” we had a feeling it would be sold overseas.
A few months ago, Don Romano, CEO of Hyundai Australia, hinted that the midsize electric SUV could arrive in The Land Down Under. Romano told journalists during an IONIQ 9 launch event that the Elexio’s launch in Australia was “under evaluation,” calling it “a promising vehicle.”
Hyundai confirmed the rumors shortly after, saying the new midsize electric SUV would launch in Australia in early 2026.
According to CarsGuide, the Elexio was caught on a car carrier in Melbourne on Wednesday morning ahead of its official launch.
Powered by an 88.1 kWh battery, the Elexio delivers up to nearly 450 miles (722 km) CLTC range. It’s based on the E-GMP platform, which underpins all IONIQ models and Kia’s EV lineup, with single and dual-motor (AWD) powertrain options. The electric SUV can also recharge from 30% to 80% in about 27 minutes.
The interior is packed with advanced Chinese tech, including Huawei’s advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chip that powers the massive 27″ 4K widescreen display.
The Elexio is 4,615 mm long, 1,875 mm wide, and 1,698 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,750 mm, which is a bit shorter than the Tesla Model Y. It’s closer in size to the BYD Yuan Plus, sold overseas as the Atto 3.
Hyundai’s midsize electric SUV is expected to compete with some of Australia’s top-selling EVs, including the Tesla Model Y and Geely EX5.
Prices have yet to be announced, but given the IONIQ 5 starts at $76,200 (AUD), before on-road costs, the Elexio should be slightly cheaper.
In China, the Elexio is available in three trims: Fun, Smart, or Tech, with pre-sale prices starting at RMB 119,800 ($16,900).
Although the electric SUV is launching in Australia and possibly other overseas markets like New Zealand, it’s not expected to be a true global vehicle. Hyundai designed it specifically for Chinese buyers, leveraging local tech and design elements.
For those in the US, if you’re looking for a midsize electric SUV, the IONIQ 5 is worth a look with 300+ miles of range, fast charging, and a spacious, tech-filled interior. With leases starting at just $189 a month, the IONIQ 5 is cheaper than most gas-powered cars in its class. You can use our link to find the Hyundai IONIQ 5 models closest to you.
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