Polestar posts record nine-month retail sales of 44,790 cars and its strongest Q3 at 14,371
Polestar reported estimated retail sales of 14,371 cars in the third quarter and 44,790 in the first nine months of 2026, both up about 1% year-on-year.
- 14,371 cars
- 44,790 cars
- 12,211 cars (-8% year-on-year)
- 40,773 cars (-0.5% year-on-year)
What Happened
Polestar (Nasdaq: PSNY) reported estimated retail sales of 14,371 cars in the third quarter of 2026 and estimated 44,790 cars in the first nine months of the year, both up around 1% year-on-year. The Gothenburg, Sweden-based electric performance brand described the quarter as its strongest third quarter, delivered despite increasingly challenging market conditions. Total first-nine-month volumes of 44,790 compare with 44,511 in 2025, a rise of 0.6%, while the 14,371 third-quarter cars compare with 14,222 a year earlier, a gain of 1%. Because that growth is only marginal, the separate figures Polestar gives excluding its U.S. business — where volumes declined — matter for reading the result.
- 44,790 vs 44,511 (+0.6%)
- 14,371 vs 14,222 (+1%)
- 40,773 vs 40,968 (-0.5%)
44,790cars
A record for the period, up 0.6% on 44,511 cars in the first nine months of 2025.
“We delivered our best third quarter despite increasingly challenging market conditions. The start of Polestar 5 customer deliveries marks an important milestone for the company, while the new Polestar 4 SUV broadens our product portfolio and extends our reach to new customer groups entering the D-SUV segment, the largest and most dynamic segment in the European premium EV market.”
Alongside total retail sales volumes, Polestar presents volumes excluding its U.S. business following the decision by U.S. authorities in respect of the Connected Vehicle Rule. On that basis, first-nine-month 2026 volumes were 40,773 versus 40,968 in 2025, down 0.5%, and third-quarter volumes were 12,211 versus 13,256, down 8%. Polestar notes that its 2026 retail sales volumes are provided on an estimated basis and are subject to revision, while 2025 volumes are final.
- Five models in the line-up: Polestar 2, Polestar 3, Polestar 4 coupé, Polestar 4 SUV and Polestar 5.
- Planned models: a Polestar 2 successor to launch in 2027, a Polestar 7 compact SUV to be introduced in 2028, and the Polestar 6 roadster.
- Cars are available in 31 markets globally across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
- Vehicles are currently manufactured on two continents, North America and Asia, with production of the Polestar 7 planned in Europe.
- Climate roadmap: halve greenhouse gas emissions per vehicle sold by 2030 and become climate-neutral across the value chain by 2040.
Previously from Polestar Automotive Holding
In early September 2026 Polestar launched the Polestar 4 SUV, a more practical electric sibling to its coupé with 1,680 litres of storage and dual-motor performance. Days later it confirmed the Formula 2030 concept car, part of a wider 2030 strategy to continue business growth and drive profitability, with design cues due on the next Polestar 2 and Polestar 7.
- Polestar launches Polestar 4 SUV, an electric compact SUV with more space and V2L
- Polestar confirms Formula 2030 concept car, previewing design for next Polestar 2 and Polestar 7
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Polestar Automotive Holding's official releases.
Why this matters
The numbers show Polestar eking out slight volume growth in what its CEO calls increasingly challenging market conditions, and the growth depends on the U.S. being included: excluding that business, nine-month sales slipped 0.5% and third-quarter sales fell 8%. The company points to first customer deliveries of the Polestar 5 and the new Polestar 4 SUV as the drivers of its momentum.
Terms in This Story
- retail sales volumes
- The number of vehicles sold to end customers, as opposed to wholesale shipments to dealers.
- D-SUV segment
- A vehicle size class for mid-size SUVs, positioned above compact (C-segment) SUVs.
- Connected Vehicle Rule
- A U.S. regulatory framework covering connected vehicles, including requirements on the software and hardware components they use.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.