Polestar continues to ring the changes as CEO Thomas Ingenlath steps down

Thomas Ingenlath, the man who transformed Polestar from Volvo performance spin-off into standalone premium EV brand is to step down. Ingenlath will be replaced by Michael Lohscheller who has held CEO positions at Opel, Vinfast and Nikola.

The news comes as a one-two punch to the industry with the news of Ingenlath’s departure coming swiftly after design director Maximilian Missoni’s exit. Coupled with the leadership change there has also been shifts to the interiors team with head of interiors Jean-Arthur Madelaine-Advenier joining Xiaomi as design director at the brand’s Munich studio and Juan Pablo “JP” Bernal stepping into the role.

Missoni is rumoured to be joining BMW, but for Ingenlath, who made the tricky transition from designer director to corporate head, returning to a design role may be seen as a step backward.

Nevertheless, Ingenlath, who modernised Volvo’s design language to make it a key player in the premium segment, is a hugely respected figure. Ingenlath, who has been with Polestar since the beginning, oversaw the launch of several award-winning models, including the Polestar 3 and 4.

However, Polestar had encountered headwinds from the slowdown in EV demand, which led Volvo to cut its ties with the EV brand. Polestar has been absorbed back into the Geely mothership with the company outlining ambitious growth plans, featuring a line-up of five performance EVs by 2026 and the Polestar 0 project which aims to build a climate-neutral car by 2030.

The incoming Lohscheller is notable for his lack of design experience, having trod a more conventional route to the boardroom via CFO roles at Mitsubishi and VW before landing the top job at Opel in 2017. Stints at Vinfast and troubled start-up Nikola followed before Polestar came knocking.

Winfried Vahland, Polestar’s incoming chairman said: “Polestar has experienced an exceptional start-up phase and with a broader model line-up, Michael Lohscheller is the ideal leader to guide Polestar into its next chapter. His deep industry knowledge, especially in driving operational excellence, developing a coherent product strategy and strengthening the global market presence will be instrumental in the next chapter of Polestar’s growth.

”With Scandinavian heritage, passion and performance Polestar will set new standards for future individual mobility. Geely remains deeply committed to Polestar’s success, and with Michael at the helm, supported by a dynamic leadership team, we are well-positioned for continued innovation and growth.”

Michael Lohscheller said: “I am honoured to join Polestar at such an exciting time in the Company’s history. Polestar has already established itself as one of the most desirable and innovative brands in the electric vehicle space, and I look forward to working with the talented team to build on this strong foundation and accelerate our development.”

Winfried Vahland said of Ingenlath: “Thomas has been instrumental in shaping Polestar into the innovative and forward-thinking brand it is today, leading its transformation from a Volvo performance division into the only true global premium electric vehicle brand, with an outstanding focus on design, performance and premium qualities. We extend our deepest gratitude for his leadership.”