Polestar achieved record retail sales of 30,423 cars in the first half of 2026, marking a 0.4% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Excluding the U.S. business, sales volumes grew 3.1% to 28,562 units. The growth was driven by strong performance in key markets including the UK, Germany, South Korea, and the Iberia region, despite regulatory and market headwinds.

In the second quarter of 2026, retail sales reached an estimated 17,296 cars. Excluding the U.S. business, Q2 sales totaled 16,175 units. The company continues to expand its retail sales network, which now stands at 235 sites, representing a 39% increase compared to the previous year.

Michael Lohscheller, Polestar CEO, attributed the record sales to strong growth in several key markets. He emphasized the company's focus on execution as it enters a critical phase of new model launches. The first customer deliveries of the Polestar 5 are set to begin, and production of the Polestar 4 SUV has started, with first deliveries expected during the fourth quarter.

The following table details the retail sales volumes for the first half and second quarter of 2026 compared to the prior year:

Retail sales volumes excluding the U.S. are presented separately following the decision by U.S. Authorities in respect of the Connected Vehicle Rule. Polestar is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, and its vehicles are available in 31 markets globally across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

Polestar (Nasdaq: PSNY) is increasing its strategic focus on Europe, which currently represents close to 80% of the Company’s retail sales volumes, by continuing to expand its sales network and preparing to localize the manufacturing of future models. This strategic shift follows a decision by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security to not grant Polestar an authorization under the current Connected Vehicle Rule to sell vehicles in the U.S. from model year 2027 onwards.

The regulatory decision necessitates a revised regional strategy, though Polestar will continue to sell existing stock of Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 in the U.S. The company remains committed to its existing customer base in the region, pledging to continue support, including providing access to its service network. In the first quarter of 2026, 94% of Polestar’s retail sales volumes originated from markets outside the U.S.

Strategic Focus and Regional Performance

The company's renewed emphasis on Europe is driven by the region's significant contribution to its overall retail volumes. By localizing manufacturing for future models, Polestar aims to strengthen its supply chain and market responsiveness in its dominant region. Michael Lohscheller, Polestar CEO, stated that the automotive industry is entering a new phase based on regional dynamics, with Europe serving as the company's largest growth engine. He highlighted record sales in 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, along with several new market launches in Europe.

Polestar plans to continue investing in markets with growth opportunities, such as Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Canada. The company noted that customer deliveries of the Polestar 5 are set to start during the summer, while a new variant of the Polestar 4 is planned for the second half of this year. The all-new Polestar 2 is scheduled for 2027, followed by the Polestar 7 compact SUV.