It has not even had its official debut in North America and already that continent has become the best market for the Polestar 1. Speaking to Automotive News, Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said that despite direct market appeals to China and Europe, North Americans have placed more refundable $2,500 deposits for the hybrid performance coupe than anywhere else. More than 500 people globally have placed an order. Polestar is planning a total of 1,500 units of its first model over the course of three years, but this could change due to demand.

Ingenlath also revealed that over 8,000 potential customers are interested in buying one. Does the company want to disappoint thousands who won't manage to snag a car up in time, or increase output to a level that'll still make the car rare? Time will tell. Polestar also plans to offer the coupe on a subscription basis, though some customers are expected to buy the car outright, starting at around $150,000. With a total of 600 hp thanks to a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four paired to a couple of electric motors, the Polestar 1 boasts an all-electric driving range of up to 93 miles. It has already made its live debut overseas, and will next be seen in action, for the first time, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next month when it tackles the famous hill climb.

Americans, however, will have to wait until this August at Pebble Beach to see the coupe in the flesh. Production is set to kick off at a new facility in China next year. The Polestar 2, a battery-electric compact sedan aimed directly at the Tesla Model 3, will debut next March at Geneva. Asked whether Tesla CEO Elon Musk should be worried about Polestar, Ingenlath responded well: "I think his list of worries is long enough."