Polestar (PSNY) reported its strongest third quarter on October 8, but all its growth came from the U.S., where authorities have blocked it from selling model year 2027 vehicles onward. For American shoppers, that means the sales surge sits alongside a shrinking new car offering: Polestar says it will keep selling existing Polestar 3 and 4 inventory and supporting customers.
The company estimates it sold 14,371 cars globally, up just 1% from a year earlier, when it sold 14,222. Its separately reported sales outside the U.S. were 12,211, compared with 13,256 last year. Subtracting those reported regional totals from the global totals gives calculated American sales of 2,160, compared with 966 last year. That increase more than offset an 8% decline across the rest of its business. These are preliminary retail sales figures, subject to revision.
What the U.S. restriction covers
The restriction isn't an immediate halt to every Polestar sale. In June, the company said the Commerce Department had denied its request for permission to sell vehicles from model year 2027 onward. The underlying Connected Vehicle Rule targets certain Chinese and Russian links in vehicle manufacturers and connected technology, with manufacturer restrictions applying even to cars built in America.
Polestar has promised continued access to its service network, an important distinction for owners weighing what the sales restriction means for their cars. Its quarterly announcement does not establish why U.S. sales jumped, so the figures alone cannot tell us how much came from buyers rushing to purchase remaining inventory.
Polestar is putting more emphasis on Europe and says customer deliveries of the Polestar 5 have begun. Its next scheduled financial update is November 5, when revenue and margins should offer another test of this sales record. Assessing its U.S. exposure would require regional financial disclosures, rather than sales totals alone.
SOURCES:
Polestar: Polestar reports record nine month retail sales and its strongest third quarter
Polestar: Polestar strengthens its focus on Europe following decision under the U.S. Connected Vehicle Rule
U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security: Commerce Finalizes Rule to Secure Connected Vehicle Supply Chains from Foreign Adversary Threats
Polestar: Polestar reports second quarter select and H1 2026 financial results
U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security: Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain: Connected Vehicles, final rule
Sources
- 1.Polestar reports record nine-month retail sales and its strongest third quarter · Polestar
- 2.Polestar strengthens its focus on Europe following decision under the U.S. Connected Vehicle Rule · Polestar
- 3.Commerce Finalizes Rule to Secure Connected Vehicle Supply Chains from Foreign Adversary Threats · U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security
- 4.Polestar reports second quarter select and H1 2026 financial results · Polestar
- 5.Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain: Connected Vehicles, final rule · U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security
Reported by the WattsUpNext desk from the sources linked below. Spot an error? Tell us at corrections@wattsupnext.com.
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