AUTO

Polestar Just Dropped $20,000 Off a Lease, But That’s Not the Wildest Part

April 23, 2025

Tesla owners get $20,000 off a Polestar 3 lease
Polestar cut emissions per car by 25%
Polestar opened a new retail Space at Westfield UTC mall in San Diego.

Would you ever guess that San Diego drivers clock nearly four times the national average in EV miles? No, really. According to recent data, they rack up about 872 EV miles per 1,000 residents on a typical weekday. Compare that to the U.S. average which is just 227. So while other cities are easing into EVs, San Diego is already fully plugged in.

Now Polestar has zeroed in on this SoCal hotspot. And they’ve done something kind of wild. They opened a fresh Polestar Space at Westfield UTC mall in San Diego. Inside a mall. Next to your favorite overpriced smoothie. And from now until the end of April, you could drive away in a brand-new Polestar 3 SUV with up to $20,000 off the lease.

That’s not a typo. Twenty thousand.

_{Polestar expands retail operations in California with new San Diego location.}

Here’s how the offer works. Polestar is giving you a $15,000 Clean Vehicle Incentive, which is already double what you’d typically get from the federal EV tax credit. On top of that, if you currently lease or own a Tesla, you get another $5,000 off.

All you need is a copy of your registration or insurance. And if someone in your household has the Tesla, that still qualifies. You just need to show that you live at the same address. So yes, that roommate who borrowed your charger and never gave it back might finally be good for something.

And they’re not shy about why they’re going all-in. “San Diego has proven to be a standout market for electrification,” said Anders Gustafsson, Head of Polestar North America. “We’re thrilled to partner with Unstoppable Group to establish a presence in this key market. Their expertise and strong local engagement will play a pivotal role as we continue getting customers behind the wheel of Polestar 3, and later this year, the new SUV coupé Polestar 4.”

But Polestar hasn’t been content with just opening a mall store and dangling big lease discounts. The company has been busy on multiple fronts. In the first quarter of 2025, Polestar reported a 76% jump in retail sales compared to the same period last year. That adds up to 12,304 cars delivered in just three months. Not bad for a brand some people still mistake for a sci-fi character.

And the climate impact? Here’s where it gets interesting. Since 2020, Polestar has cut the carbon emissions per car sold by nearly 25%. That reduction didn’t happen by accident. It came from smarter choices, like using low-carbon aluminum, improving battery production processes, and relying entirely on renewable electricity during manufacturing.

CEO Michael Lohscheller stated, “Polestar has shown that it is possible to decouple growth from climate impact.”

_{Volvo and Polestar to open access to more than 17,800 NACS charging points through Tesla Supercharger Network.}

But here’s where things get even more interesting. Polestar wants to build a completely climate-neutral car. Zero emissions. No offsets. Just clean from start to finish. They call it the Polestar 0 project. And no, this isn’t some abstract concept cooked up in a boardroom. It’s backed by actual research, real collaboration, and a place called the Mission 0 House in Gothenburg.

That’s where scientists and engineers work side by side, focused on rethinking materials, streamlining logistics, and overhauling manufacturing processes. Every part of the car is being questioned. And nothing’s off the table.

Lohscheller gets blunt, “Even though much in the world seems to be going in the wrong direction, we are doubling down on our commitments. When the world zigs, Polestar zags.”

And while we’re zooming out for a second, the Polestar 3 is assembled right here in the U.S., specifically in South Carolina. That detail matters. With more people searching for “Polestar vs Tesla,” American-built options with European roots are getting a closer look. Buyers are paying attention to where their cars come from, and Polestar knows it.

San Diego has quickly become one of the most active areas in the country for electric vehicle adoption. Axios described it as “a hotspot for electric vehicle adoption,” and recent numbers back that up. Local dealerships are experiencing a steady rise in interest, while the EV infrastructure continues to grow stronger every week. So, if switching to an electric SUV has been on your mind, now might be the right moment to stop browsing and actually take one for a spin.

Because $20,000 off a lease doesn’t come around every day. And neither does a car company that makes climate transparency front and center, and not buried in the fine print.

So here’s what to do:

If you drive a Tesla, pull up your registration.
Live in the same house as someone who drives one? Grab theirs.
Take it to the new Polestar San Diego Space before April 30.
Ask to see the Polestar 3.
Ask questions. Get weird. Sit in it. Feel the materials. Take the test drive.

If you’ve been looking for a sign to make the switch, this might be the most convincing one yet. Polestar didn’t simply open another store. They came prepared, backed by real incentives and hard numbers to make their case.