Tired of Musk’s politics? Polestar CEO owns some electric cars

He called Musk’s support for Germany’s ADD party “unacceptable” and “sheer arrogance” but admitted he had “done incredible things with Tesla”

Polestar is a relatively young player in the automotive industry. It is a stand-alone brand launched by Volvo and its parent Chinese auto giant Geely in 2017 and has spent the past eight years trying to establish its own brand but failing to hit multiple sales targets in the process. In August 2024, Polestar appointed a new CEO, Michael Lohscheller, to help guide the company towards profitability.

Now Lochscheler has an interesting (to say the least) plan: He wants to win over Tesla customers who are tired of Elon Musk’s politics.

Musk has been at the center of multiple controversies, many of his own making. Recent events aside, his support for President Donald Trump has polarized consumers. On top of that, his views on other countries’ politics are also widely known. For example, in December 2024, he publicly supported Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party, and he also made some controversial remarks about the British political landscape.

More: Polestar pins turnaround hopes on Porsche Macan-sized SUV

Lohscheller thinks this could be good for Polestar. “We’re getting a lot of letters from people saying they don’t like all this,” he told Bloomberg News. “It’s important to listen carefully to what they have to say. I can tell you that a lot of people have very, very negative feelings. . ” In fact, he preferred to condemn Musk’s support for the Alternative for Germany.

“It’s a big thing for Germany that people outside of Germany support right-wing parties. Do you want to know what I think about that? I think it’s totally unacceptable. Totally unacceptable. You just don’t do that. It’s purely It’s arrogance, these things don’t work.” Still, he did temper his words, saying Musk is very successful and has “done incredible things with Tesla.”

While Lochscheler’s condemnation of foreign interference in national politics is strident, it also highlights an interesting contradiction. As chief executive of Polestar, a unit of Chinese auto giant Geely, he represents a brand closely linked to one of the world’s most politically influential countries. At a time when China’s role in global industry faces scrutiny, critics may question whether his rebuke of Musk’s “arrogance” fully fits Polestar’s own context.

Lochscheler, on the other hand, sees this as an opportunity to take advantage of disgruntled Tesla owners who want to cut ties with Musk. He told his sales staff to target these people specifically and try to get them to buy a Polestar. Ultimately, whether they come from Tesla or any other brand, Lohscheller now just wants customers to sit down.

Polestar consumes approximately $110 million per month. It survives in part thanks to nearly a billion dollars in bank funding. To turn things around, though, it will need to continue cutting costs while launching new models and hopefully gaining market share.