Geely-affiliated EV maker Polestar reportedly lays off 30% of China staff

Electric vehicle maker Polestar’s China division is reportedly set to undergo its first major layoff with plans to reduce its workforce by about 30% by the end of September. The move is expected to have a significant impact on its local car manufacturing activities. The brand, owned by Chinese automaker Geely, has already suspended production at a facility in the country’s southwestern city of Chengdu while it also looks to downsize office space at its regional headquarters in Shanghai, local media outlet FEAutoCar reported on July 2, citing sources at the firm. The news comes just months after the Swedish company announced it was looking to reduce about 15% of its workforce globally in January. The company sold fewer than 1,000 cars during the first four months of this year in China, the world’s biggest auto market. [FEAutoCar, in Chinese]