Episode 42: In Conversation with Samantha Johnson, Managing Director, Polestar Automotive Australia
In this episode, Jonathan chats with Polestar Automotive Australia's managing director Samantha Johnson. Ms Johnson holds a considerable amount of automotive industry experience, including with Harley Davidson and Volvo Cars. She is passionate about sustainability, design and technology, and was recently appointed to Australian Electric Vehicle Council's board of directors. Jonathan and Samantha discuss the brand's recent launch in Australia, semiconductor shortages and supply chains, the Polestar's current and future model range, and the brand's core values around environmental sustainability.
Timecodes:
/0:00: Introduction
/01:20-What differentiates Polestar?
/04:30-Does Polestar's family tree affect its ability to act as a start up?
/05:40-Polestar 2 sales ambitions in Australia
/07:35-Polestar 2 delivery times in Australia. Is the brand facing delays?
/09:10-The Polestar 3 SUV is confirmed for a 2023 release in Australia
/10:16-How has the semiconductor shortage affected Polestar in Australia?
/11:05-Polestar Spaces (showrooms) coming to Australia
/12:50-Polestar's 7-day money back guarantee
/14:01-Servicing, roadside assistance and battery warranty
/14:24-The Polestar service network
/15:07-The brand's core sustainability values and its climate neutral car
/18:34-The importance of in-car software, and how it will differentiate the Polestar brand
/20:39-EV charging infrastructure in Australia
----
Apologies for the audio quality; this episode was recorded in the restaurant of the Intercontinental Hotel in Sydney, April 2022.
----
Episode 30: Manufacturing News from Volvo, Mercedes, BMW & Hyundai, New York Gets 100MW Battery
On episode 30, we have plenty of manufacturing news from the big German automakers, Hyundai and Volvo. Canberra, Australia plans to purchase 90 electric buses in 2021, New York City gets a 100MW battery to balance demand in the grid and Western Australia’s Bluewater coal fired power station has its asset value written down by its Japanese owners.
0'00" - Introduction;
0'55" - Hyundai announces new E-GMP vehicle architecture for future EVs - Read More
3'05": Volvo cars embraces full electrification of model range by 2030;
5'00": BMW retools facilities, constructs electric production plants for electric drivetrain future;
6'10': Mercedes-Benz shifts to electric production, expanding manufacturing and battery cell facilities around the world. The company plans 8 BEVs in production by 2022;
8'29": Canberra, Australia orders 90 new electric buses, as government looks to move to zero emissions transport;
9'25": 434MW Bluewater power station in Western Australia has its asset value written down to zero by Japanese owners - Read more
11'35": A massive new 100MW battery is planned for Astoria, Queens, a partnership between ConEdison and 174 Power Global - Read more:
13'08": Wrap up
--
Thanks for tuning in! Please get in touch with any questions and comments, and please subscribe to ensure you don't miss next week's episode! If you enjoyed the content, please leave a review if you have time! It really helps the show's exposure.
--
