Waylands is to operate Polestar Bicester marking a significant expansion of its relationship with the Swedish EV performance brand.
The Bicester Space, based at The Command Works at Bicester Motion, has served as Polestar UK's headquarters showroom since December 2022, operated directly by the manufacturer.
Waylands already manages Polestar Cribbs in Bristol and is now established as a key partner in Polestar’s UK growth strategy. With the transition to Waylands, Polestar said it now aims to strengthen its customer engagement and retail presence in Oxfordshire and the surrounding Thames Valley region.
The UK was one of the first European markets where Polestar moved to a non-genuine sales mode in line with a rescue plan to reach profitable growth in 2025.
The move last year saw Polestar UK giving its retail partners much more ability to deal with car buyers at Polestar Space showrooms under the new non-genuine agency (NGA) contracts.
This marked a radical shift from its decision in 2020 to begin selling directly through its online platform rather than through Polestar Spaces. These were manned by several AM100 franchised dealer groups who were not incentivised to sell to ensure "a no-pressure experience" and who only earned fees for handling customers and handing over cars.
Matt Galvin, managing director of Polestar UK, commented: “Our Bicester Space has proven a real success, becoming a destination for customers seeking high-performance EVs with cutting-edge technology and environmental transparency. As we scale our business nationally, I’m delighted that Waylands will bring their proven expertise to build on this momentum.”
John O’Hanlon, CEO of Waylands, added: “We are genuinely excited to expand our partnership with Polestar. Supporting customers in Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley to experience these incredible electric performance cars is a privilege we look forward to continuing.”
Under Waylands’ leadership, the Bicester Space will maintain its role in offering test drives across the Polestar range and supporting online sales journeys, ensuring a seamless and immersive customer experience.
Waylands currently represents Volvo, Polestar, Kia, and MG across the South of England, employing over 370 colleagues across 12 locations.
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