Polestar calls out industry’s carbon footprint 'transparency problem'

Polestar says it is currently impossible for a consumer to compare the climate impact of different cars.

"The industry has a transparency problem," said Polestar Head of Sustainability Fredrika Klaren.

Polestar discovered the issue when it was developing its methodology to determine the carbon footprint of its first full-electric car, the Polestar 2 sedan, which the Volvo Cars subsidiary estimates leaves the factory with a carbon footprint of 26 metric tons.

"It became so clear to us that consumers can't do anything with this number because they can't compare it," she told Automotive News Europe during a video chat. "Automakers aren't sharing their methodologies. And if they are they certainly aren't sharing them with customers."