Polestar owners are growing anxious that the value of their electric vehicles could plummet after the US government banned the automaker from selling new cars beyond the 2027 model year.
The decision, announced last week by the US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security, blindsided dealers and left current owners questioning the long-term viability of Polestar's service network.
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Owners fear their cars may stop receiving regular software updates, and that onboard technology could fall behind what is offered in other markets, according to Reuters.
Some shoppers, however, see the turmoil as an opportunity.
They are betting that sinking resale values will make used Polestars much cheaper, drawing comparisons to the fire-sale prices that followed Fisker's 2024 bankruptcy.
Uncertainty Over Service and Software
Polestar owner Ryan Rodriguez told Reuters he purchased a 2024 model just weeks before the ban was announced.
He said he would have considered a different EV brand had he known the ban was coming.
Rodriguez also worries about potential warranty issues down the line.
Another owner, Bill Baird, who hopes to keep his 2024 Polestar for years, said he has already faced difficulties getting his car serviced through Volvo dealerships.
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“I’d be a little wary of that, just for long-term support,” he told Reuters.
Polestar insists it remains committed to servicing its vehicles in the US.
The company says it will continue to operate its 32 existing service centers, all located at Volvo dealerships, though their long-term viability remains uncertain.
The automaker also maintains that all US vehicles will keep receiving regular software updates.
Dealers are confused about why Polestar was denied authorization while Volvo, which also uses Chinese-sourced hardware and software, was granted an exemption to keep selling cars in the US.
Karl Brauer of iSeeCars believes Volvo's network could help soften the negative effects of Polestar's exit from the US market.
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But not all owners are convinced.
