Nokian, Polestar collaborate on climate-neutral car

NOKIA, Finland—Nokian Tyres P.L.C. is collaborating with electric vehicle maker Polestar Automotive Holding UK P.L.C. on its Polestar 0 project, with the goal to create a climate-neutral car by 2030.

The project looks to eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions stemming from the production and end-of-life of the car. Nokia-based Nokian is developing climate-neutral premium tires to be used on the vehicle.

The Polestar 0 project aims to to eliminate all sources of CO2 emissions without offsetting them, throughout the car's supply chain, manufacturing processes and end of life.

In order to attain that, Nokian said that collaboration must be achieved across the entire development process and value chain, from suppliers to retailers. Each component, and its value chains, must be climate neutral.

"This type of partnership is a perfect match when it comes to Nokian Tyres' values, business and our ambitious work on sustainability," Teemu Soini, head of innovation and development at Nokian Tyres, said.

Soini said the project will help decrease "the carbon footprints of different business activities," some of which may be available before 2030.

"For example, the tire innovations created during the Polestar 0 project will be utilized in Nokian Tyres' products as soon as it is possible," he said.

Nokian developed the world's first winter tire in 1934, the tire maker said, and since then has among the leaders in sustainability in the industry. Last year, the company introduced the Nokian Tyres Green Step concept tire, whose materials content comprises 93 percent recycled or renewable materials.

"Tackling the climate crisis takes innovation, creativity and collaboration across industries, and joining a groundbreaking project like Polestar 0 is exactly the type of challenge that we are eager to take on," Soinin said.

Polestar, a Swedish premium electric vehicle manufacturer founded by Volvo Cars and Geely Holding in 2017, is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. Its vehicles are available online in 27 markets globally across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Hans Pehrson, head of the Polestar 0 project, said Nokian has a "proven track record, experience and knowledge (that) will be very valuable for us in the Polestar 0 project, when we together do research on eliminating greenhouse gas emissions."

Nokian Tyres is building what it calls the world's first zero CO2 emission tire factory, in Oradea, Romania. In addition, the factory aims for the same zero waste to landfill standard from production as at the company's other factories in Finland and in the U.S.

The Romanian factory is scheduled to produce its first tires in 2024, and commercial production is expected to begin in 2025.