If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you’re interested in electric mobility and all the exciting changes that are happening in the area. Well the good news is that you can now dig even deeper, through a new podcast series called Let’s Talk Mobility, which features global movers and shakers in the sector.
The series, produced by Al-Futtaim Automotive, is hosted by Mousub Shashaa, Founder and CEO of ArabGT, with the first five episodes featuring a stellar line-up of industry trailblazers and sustainability pioneers. The first one, which is live now, is an interview with Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar recorded at COP28 in December. Polestar has just launched its groundbreaking luxury SUV the Polestar 3 in UAE.
The next four podcast episodes also feature an array of fascinating commentators. They are; Karin Svensson, Chief Sustainability Officer of Volvo Group; Fredrika Klarén, Head of Sustainability at Polestar; Anders Kärrberg, Head of Sustainability at Volvo Cars & Jonas Otterheim, Head of Climate Action, Volvo Cars; Aravind Mani, Co-Founder & CEO, River.
Katib Belkhodja, Director of Customer Centricity, Al-Futtaim Automotive, commented on the launch of Let’s Talk Mobility: “As an industry stakeholder and a market leader, we have a primary responsibility of facilitating vital discussions and elevate the customer understanding on crucial topics that impact not only the daily commute but also the future of our planet. 2/3rd of Google UAE searches on EVs are not brand specific, showing that people still have many unanswered questions on electric mobility and there is a real need for more learnings and insights on this topic. Our podcast series aims to address this need through discussions with leading experts and trailblazers.”
In the first episode, Thomas Ingelnath, CEO of Polestar, reflects on some of Polestar’s core beliefs around sustainability and design.
The company’s stated aim is to produce a completely carbon-neutral car, with their so-called Polestar 0 project. When asked how this can be achieved, he concedes that “it’s a big mountain and it is an incredible task and really difficult.”
He continues that it’s like losing weight, you just need to stick at it day to day, achieving small but important milestones.
“That is exactly how we take the CO2 out and having a moon shot goal is important. Polestar 2 started with [producing] 26 tonnes of CO2 burden. Two years afterwards we brought it down already to 23 [tonnes]. The Polestar 3 plus the Polestar 4 are only 20 tonnes so you see we’re getting closer to that goal.”
UAE drivers are very keen on SUVs and the experience of driving them, so Ingelnath sees the Polestar 3 as a crucial vehicle to open up the market for the Swedish manufacturer.
He explains: “The key is to deliver to the customer the car that they actually desire to have and of course for the UAE you need that premium luxury SUV which people are really enjoying in their journey. So for that reason, Polestar 3 is the key for us to unlock this market and by offering that product brings them closer to what the greatest electric drivetrain means. You don’t have to be passionate about sustainability in order to enjoy an electric car; it’s such a joyful ride. I mean you are driving this powerful, fast accelerating, quiet drivetrain. It’s a perfect drivetrain for a luxury vehicle.”
Also in the podcast, Ingelnath talks about the importance of their Truthbot initiative, the creation of a repository for facts and figures around EVs and electrification to combat some of the misinformation that swirls around the sector.
He also talks about his passion for great design (he’s a designer by background) and how it shapes the overall customer experience. From using novel, sustainable materials, to creating a car that truly stands out in traffic!
The Let’s Talk Mobility podcast is available now to listen and watch on Spotify (@al-futtaim-automotive) and YouTube (@alfuttaimautogroup).
