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Up-and-coming EV maker Polestar (PSNY) is launching a smartphone in December as its first electric SUV, the Polestar 4, begins rolling out in China.

Polestar’s CEO Thomas Ingenlath told CNBC that the EV maker plans to begin Polestar 4 production, with deliveries expected by the end of the year.

Ingenlath also mentioned that Polestar will take an innovative approach by launching its first smartphone in December. The new smartphone will carry the Polestar brand name while making its vehicles more like “mobile phones on wheels.”

The move comes as buyers in China prefer tech-oriented, connected experiences with the latest features.

Polestar’s new smartphone emerges from the EV maker’s alliance with Chinese tech company Xingji Meizu Group. Polestar formed a joint venture with the tech company in June to advance its in-vehicle operating system (OS) for the Chinese market.

Geely, Polestar’s parent company, bought a majority stake (nearly 80%) in Meizu last year to expand its digital platform solutions.

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Polestar 3 (left) Polestar 4 (right) (Source: Polestar)

Polestar smartphone coming in December

Meizu was once one of China’s most popular smartphone makers, known as a potential Android rival. However, the tech company lost market share to more prominent players like Xiaomi and Apple.

By partnering with Meizu, “we will be able to offer the locally tailored user experience that both drivers and passengers expect,” Ingenlath explained.

Meanwhile, with the tech company’s help, “Polestar will take the lead in the field of smart mobility,” Xingji Meizu chairman Ziyu Shen said.

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Polestar 4 interior (Source: Polestar)

Ingenlath mentioned that the Polestar smartphone will be a “premium” device to link to its premium EVs. He added:

It’s not just good enough to bring a great European design to China, you have to be very, very special about what you offer to the market when it comes to software.

Polestar is not the only up-and-coming EV maker with launching a smartphone. China’s own NIO is also launching a mobile phone to improve the user experience.

NIO received its license to access the internet in China in July, crossing the last major hurdle before it can be sold there. However, the NIO phone is powered by Android.

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NIO Phone teased (Source: NIO)

Without Google Android mobile OS, Polestar can customize the operating system on the phone while syncing it up to the car. Meizu is creating an OS for Polestar based on its own FlyMe.

Neil Shah, vice president of research at Counterpoint Research, told CNBC that launching a smartphone enables Polestar to bundle software, apps, services, and features (think Apple).

The smartphone will debut alongside its first electric SUV in China, the Polestar 4. Ingenlath says the Polestar 4 is positioned as “more premium, more luxurious” than Tesla’s Model Y.

Polestar-smartphone
Polestar 4 electric SUV (Source: Polestar)

The electric SUV will start at around $60,000 and is designed to take on rivals like the Porsche Macan.

Meanwhile, Polestar’s first electric SUV in the US, the Polestar 3, will begin production in the first quarter of 2024. It will launch in two versions (long-range dual motor and performance), with the standard model starting at $82,900 with up to 300 miles range expected.

Electrek’s Take

The Chinese auto market is rapidly transitioning to the digital, electric era. Domestic EV makers like BYD, NIO, and others continue gaining market share by offering unique user experiences.

Ford’s CEO Jim Farley has mentioned this before, saying he had a “real epiphany” after visiting China.

Farley explained, “It’s interesting to see how customers are no longer just attracted to traditional luxury brands with EVs or even hardware design anymore.” Instead, he said, “The best new brands are offering integrated digital, retail, lifestyle, and experience that are software-defined.”

Other legacy automakers, like Volkswagen and Audi, are outsourcing technology to help them attract local market share.

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Prime Day-2 Green Deals: Greenworks electric mini-bike + tools, EGO equipment, Navee sale, Aventon e-bikes, and much more

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Prime Day-2 Green Deals: Greenworks electric mini-bike + tools, EGO equipment, Navee sale, Aventon e-bikes, and much more

It’s the second day of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event, and we’ve got another jam-packed edition of Green Deals for you, led by a rare price cut on the Greenworks 80V STEALTH Electric Mini-Bike to $1,440. Right behind it is a more sizeable collection of EGO electric tools and equipment getting discounts than we usually see at once, with the brand’s EGO Z6 52-inch Cordless Electric Zero-Turn Riding Lawn Mower coming with six 12.0Ah batteries at $5,600. There’s also Navee’s increased Autumn EV Sale savings starting from $266, and so much more waiting for you below – plus, all the other eco-friendly discounts we couldn’t stuff in here are available within our Prime Day Green Deals hub. And don’t forget to check out yesterday’s edition with the first-day favorites.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Hop on Greenworks’ 80V STEALTH electric mini-bike with Bluetooth speakers and rare price cut to $1,440 for Prime Day

As part of its Prime Big Deal Days, Amazon is offering a rare price cut on the Greenworks 80V STEALTH Electric Mini Bike to $1,439.99 shipped. Normally sitting up at its full $1,800 price, discounts are pretty rare on this model, as opposed to the few but more frequent savings that hit its counterparts in the brand’s e-transportation series. We saw the price drop to its lowest to $1,349 in May, with the deal here coming in as the second-best rate that saves you $360 off the tag.

This is the most advanced of Greenworks’ e-transportation lineup, which all take advantage of the brand’s versatile and interchangeable batteries for power, letting you get more bang for your buck, especially when you have quite the arsenal of the brand’s tools. The Greenworks 80V STEALTH electric mini-bike is powered by the two included 8.0Ah batteries to carry you for up to 27 miles, only taking two hours to recharge thanks to the 8A dual-port charger. The stylish mini-bike frame houses a 1,000W brushless rear hub STEALTH motor (hence the name), which can top out at 20 MPH when in its Eco mode and up to 25 MPH when set to the Sport mode.

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Compared to the other e-bikes in the brand’s series, this model brings along a much larger list of additional features, like the front fork suspension, dual rear shock absorbers, 19-inch all-terrain tires, an integrated headlight and taillight with three settings, an IPX4 water-resistant build, a push-button start, 3-in-1 functionality (forward, neutral, reverse), integrated Bluetooth speakers, an LED screen, and more.

EGO riding lawn mower parked in garage with other tools hanging on wall

Prime Day drops 52-inch EGO Z6 cordless zero-turn riding mower with 6x 12.0Ah batteries to $5,600, more

As part of its ongoing Prime Big Deal Days, Amazon is offering up to 28% discounts on a collection of EGO Power+ lawn care equipment. One notable price cut during this event is on the newest EGO Z6 52-inch Cordless Electric Zero-Turn Riding Lawn Mower with six 12.0Ah batteries for $5,599.99 shipped. Normally going for $6,999 in full, the few discounts we’ve seen hit it over the year have taken the costs down as low as $5,499, which we last saw at the top of April. The deal here provides a 20% markdown off the going rate, slashing $1,399 off the tag for the third-lowest price we have tracked. You can also find a large number of other tools seeing discounts in the brand’s official storefront here, with the best of them collected together below.

If you want to learn more about this riding mower, as well as browse the other EGO tool discounts, be sure to check out our original coverage of these deals here.

man doing wheelie on navee st3 pro electric scooter

Navee’s Autumn Sale increases EV savings for Prime Day, with its flagship ST3 Pro dropping to $710, more

Navee’s ongoing Autumn EV Sale has increased savings on e-scooters for the week of Prime Day, complete with bonus savings and some free gear too. A notable price cut is coming to the brand’s flagship ST3 Pro Smart Electric Scooter for $709.99 shippedafter using the code AFF50 at checkout for an additional $50 off the price, with the first 30 orders also getting a free chain lock (a $49 value). This model released back in March and carries a $950 MSRP these days, which we’ve mostly seen discounted to $760 during most sales, though there have been falls as low as $685 and $660 in the past. While this event continues, you can score $240 off the going rate for the third-lowest price we have tracked, which also beats out its Amazon pricing by $50.

If you want to learn more about this scooter, either read our in-depth hands-on review or check out our original coverage of this and the other EV deals here.

woman riding Aventon Aventure 2 e-bike down beach
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Best Fall EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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Nissan reveals new lower-priced LEAF B5 in Japan

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Nissan reveals new lower-priced LEAF B5 in Japan

The new Nissan LEAF is among the most affordable electric vehicles in the US, with a starting price under $30,000. Overseas, it’s a different story. To keep pace with BYD, Hyundai, and others, Nissan revealed a new, lower-priced LEAF B5 model in Japan.

Meet the new Nissan LEAF B7, next up is the B5

We got our first look at the third-gen LEAF in June. Although Nissan’s iconic electric hatch was once a top-selling electric vehicle, it was long overdue for an update.

The new LEAF is back and better than ever, boasting a significantly longer driving range, faster charging, and a new crossover SUV-like design.

Even with the improvements, Nissan claims the 2026 LEAF has “the lowest starting MSRP for any new EV currently on sale in the US” at just $29,990. That’s even cheaper than the first model, which arrived in 2011 for $32,780.

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Overseas, including in its home market of Japan, it won’t be so easy. Nissan faces stiff competition from lower-cost electric vehicles from BYD, Hyundai, Kia, and several other brands.

Nissan announced plans to launch a new, lower-priced “LEAF B5” model on Wednesday, aiming to fend off the wave of new competition entering the Japanese market.

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Nissan unveils the new LEAF B7, plans for lower-priced B5 model (Source: Nissan)

Nissan said it plans to launch the lower-priced LEAF B5 in February 2026. It will feature a smaller 55 kWh battery and “is expected to be priced more affordably for a wider range of customers,” the company said.

In the meantime, Nissan will open orders for the LEAF B7 in Japan on October 17, with deliveries scheduled to begin in January 2026.

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New Nissan LEAF B7 models (Source: Nissan)

Powered by a 78 kWh battery, the B7 variant delivers a WLTC driving range of up to 702 km (436 miles). Using a 150 kW fast charger, Nissan said it can also recharge from 10% to 80% in 35 minutes.

The third-gen LEAF features a new energy management system and battery conditioning feature to optimize energy consumption.

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The new Nissan LEAF B7 interior (Source: Nissan)

Inside, the new Nissan LEAF B7 looks about the same as the other model, with a dual 12.3″ display at the center.

Nissan offers two grades, “X” and “G.” The LEAF B7 X starts at 5,188,700 yen ($34,000) while the G model is priced from 5,999,400 yen ($39,300).

Both the B7 and B5 will receive an AUTECH upgrade. The LEAF B7 AUTECH starts at 6,513,100 yen ($42,600), while prices for the B5 version have yet to be announced.

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Nvidia CEO says AI needs way more energy. Cramer says this is the power stock to own

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Nvidia CEO says AI needs way more energy. Cramer says this is the power stock to own

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