STOCKHOLM, July 3 (Reuters) - Sweden-based electric

vehicle maker Polestar said on Thursday its upcoming

SUV model Polestar 7 will be manufactured at Volvo Cars'

under-construction factory in Slovakia, making it

its first car to be made in Europe.

Polestar said in a statement the two companies, which are

both controlled by China's Geely and its owner Li Shufu, had

signed a memorandum of understanding to the effect, and that it

plans to launch the model in 2028.

"Polestar is taking the next step in diversifying its

contract manufacturing footprint by expanding it to Europe," it

said, adding that the move would strengthen its position in its

our home market.

Polestar doesn't own factories, its cars are produced at

factories owned by Volvo Cars and Geely in China and the United

States. One model will also manufactured in South Korea from

this year.