Launching smartphones with EVs
Meizu is not a major player in the smartphone market in China, where companies like Apple and Oppo dominate. However, Meizu’s collaboration with Polestar to launch a smartphone is not aimed at gaining market share. Instead, the idea behind this unique partnership is to create a seamless transition between cars and mobile phones.
Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath explained, “Where you have an opportunity to link these two worlds, without any border … then you can really have a seamless transition.”
Imagine a world where the app you use on your phone seamlessly transfers to your car’s dashboard screen when you enter the car. This level of integration is what Polestar and Meizu aim to achieve. Ingenlath expressed frustration with the limitations of current technology, saying, “I still have problems to get, you know, an SMS displayed.”
Ingenlath also mentioned that the smartphone Meizu develops for Polestar would be a high-end device, allowing Meizu to enter the premium handset market. This concept of car companies launching phones is gaining traction, as Chinese EV start-up Nio plans to release its own mobile phone later this year.
There are several reasons why this collaboration makes sense, particularly in the second largest economy in the world.
“It’s not just good enough to bring a great European design to China, you have to be very, very special about what you offer to the market when it comes to software.”
Thomas Ingenlath
CEO of Polestar
One key advantage of this collaboration is the ability to customize the mobile operating system. Unlike Google Android, which is not available in China, Meizu has its own operating system called FlyMe. By creating an operating system for both the phone and the car, integration becomes seamless.
Ingenlath emphasized the importance of offering unique and specialized software, stating, “It’s not just good enough to bring a great European design to China, you have to be very, very special about what you offer to the market when it comes to software.” Neil Shah, Vice President of Research at Counterpoint Research, highlighted that many other car manufacturers are following this trend to provide a holistic and connected experience.
Launching a smartphone also allows Polestar to bundle software, apps, services, and features that can be controlled through the phone, offering convenience and enhancing the overall user experience. Additionally, it provides carmakers with valuable insights into their customers’ habits and preferences.
Polestar 4 ‘more premium’ than Tesla’s Model Y
The Polestar 4, priced at 349,800 Chinese yuan ($47,890), is positioned as a more premium and luxurious option compared to Tesla’s Model Y, which starts at 263,900 yuan. According to Ingenlath, Polestar’s target customers are primarily BMW and Mercedes-Benz owners, and the Polestar 4 competes with luxury cars like the Porsche Macan.
