Trump Administration Bans Sales of New Polestar EVs in the U.S.

Friends, an update from the EV space: the Commerce Department denied authorization for new Polestar models under the “Connected Vehicle” rule, which restricts vehicles containing Chinese software/hardware.

Briefly:
- Polestar applied for a special license — denied.
- The company will continue selling existing stock of Polestar 3 and 4 and provide service support.
- 94% of Q1 2026 sales were outside the U.S.; Polestar will shift focus to Europe.
- For comparison: Volvo, also part of Geely, received authorization.

Why it matters: the decision limits market access for manufacturers with Chinese ties and reshapes global strategies.

What consequences will this have for the EV industry in the short and medium term?

#electricvehicles #autoindustry #cybersecurity #trade