Polestar claims it was blindsided by sales ban
Polestar said the Trump administration strung it along for months before finally rejecting its request to continue selling its electric vehicles in the US under a rule outlawing vehicles with connected software from China. In an August 18th letter sent to dealers and obtained by The Verge, Polestar said it doesn't have a clear answer […]
Beverly Hills, California - June 26: Electric vehicle manufacturer Polestar finds itself caught off guard after being barred from selling new cars in the United States starting with the 2027 model year. The Commerce Department cited national security concerns under new connected-vehicle regulations as the reason for the ban. Polestar claims the decision came as a surprise, with the company stating in an August 18th letter to dealers that it had been "strung along for months" before the final rejection of its application to continue selling its electric vehicles in the US.
The letter, obtained by The Verge, reveals Polestar's frustration at not having a clear explanation for its denial when compared to Volvo, a sister company owned by the same parent company. Volvo was authorized to sell its vehicles in the US despite similar corporate ownership, raising questions about the fairness of the decision.
The US Department of Commerce approved Volvo's application in May 2026, leaving Polestar to ponder the discrepancy in the outcomes of the two companies.
Written by urgent.news from The Verge's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
