How did Polestar’s sales hold up in the first half?
Polestar delivered 30,423 vehicles worldwide in the six months to 30 June 2026. That figure is up 0.4 per cent from the 30,289 vehicles delivered in the same period a year earlier.
The second quarter told a more mixed story. Between April and June, Polestar delivered 17,296 vehicles. That was down 4.0 per cent year on year. Sales excluding the United States slipped 3.9 per cent to 16,175 units in the same quarter.
Where is Polestar finding growth outside the United States?
Over the full first half, demand outside the United States rose 3.1 per cent to 28,562 vehicles. That shift shows where the brand is focusing its commercial energy.
Chief executive Michael Lohscheller pointed to gains in the UK, Germany, South Korea, and the Iberia region. In addition, Polestar’s retail network expanded to 235 locations by mid-2026. That is a 39 per cent increase from a year earlier.
Why is Polestar leaving the US new-car market?
The US Connected Vehicle Rule is the reason Polestar is preparing to exit American new-car sales. The rule restricts vehicles with certain Chinese-linked hardware and software from the 2027 model year onward.
Polestar will continue selling existing models in the United States through the end of the 2026 model year. However, from 2027 it cannot offer new vehicles there. In Sweden, this news weighed on the company’s share price.
What products does Polestar have coming next?
The brand has several launches in preparation. The Polestar 5 is among the models on the way. Meanwhile, production of the Polestar 4 SUV has begun, with first deliveries expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
For Polestar, expanding the product range and the retail network at the same time is a significant undertaking. The brand is doing this while absorbing the loss of a major market. Consequently, how it manages that transition will shape its trajectory over the next two to three years.
What does this mean for Polestar’s longer-term position?
Polestar has shown it can grow volumes in Europe and Asia. The first-half record came despite real commercial pressure. Therefore, the underlying demand story across those regions is encouraging for the brand.
However, the US was a meaningful part of Polestar’s commercial footprint. Replacing that revenue through other markets takes time. As a result, the coming quarters will test whether the growth in Europe and Asia can fully absorb the impact of the American exit. The expansion of the retail network and the arrival of new models give the brand credible tools to work with.
