Lifecycle Data on Polestar 5 Underscores Rising Importance of EV Supply-Chain Emissions

According to a recent LinkedIn post from EV Co, a new lifecycle assessment of the upcoming Polestar 5 suggests that most emissions associated with the vehicle stem from materials rather than assembly. The post notes that roughly 60% of emissions are attributed to materials, while manufacturing reportedly accounts for less than 1% of the model’s carbon footprint.

The post indicates that Polestar recorded a cradle-to-gate footprint of 23.8 tonnes of CO₂e for the Polestar 5, covering stages from raw material extraction through to vehicle delivery. This framing implies that decarbonization efforts in the EV sector may increasingly hinge on supply chain management and material sourcing, which could influence cost structures, procurement strategies, and competitive positioning for EV manufacturers and their suppliers.

For investors, the emphasis on upstream emissions suggests that companies able to secure low-carbon materials and transparent supply chains may gain a strategic advantage as regulatory and consumer scrutiny intensifies. The LinkedIn content also reinforces a broader industry narrative that factory efficiency alone is unlikely to drive future sustainability gains, potentially redirecting capital allocation toward materials innovation, supplier partnerships, and traceability solutions in the EV value chain.