Polestar says it delivered an estimated 30,423 cars in the first half of 2026, a new record for the Swedish electric performance brand. Growth was driven by strong momentum in the UK, Germany, South Korea and the Iberian Peninsula, even as second-quarter volumes slipped year on year. The result comes just ahead of a busy stretch of new model launches, with the Polestar 5 and Polestar 4 SUV due to reach customers later this year.

Polestar (Nasdaq: PSNY) has reported preliminary first-half sales of an estimated 30,423 cars, which the company describes as a record for the period. That figure is up 0.4% on the 30,289 cars sold in the first half of 2025.

Stripping out the United States, where sales are now reported separately, the brand delivered an estimated 28,562 cars in the first six months of 2026, a 3.1% increase on the 27,712 sold a year earlier. Polestar reports the ex-US numbers on their own following the US authorities’ decision on the Connected Vehicle Rule.

A softer second quarter

The headline record masks a weaker second quarter. Between April and June, Polestar delivered an estimated 17,296 cars, down 4.0% from 18,026 in the same quarter of 2025. Excluding the US, Q2 deliveries came to 16,175 cars, a 3.9% fall from 16,818 a year earlier.

Chief executive Michael Lohscheller framed the half-year result as a solid outcome given the conditions. “A record first half despite headwinds from both regulation and the market is a significant achievement,” he said. “We continue to make progress across the whole business and are delivering strong growth in several key markets, especially the UK, Germany, South Korea and the Iberian Peninsula.”

The company says its retail network now spans 235 sales locations, a 39% increase on last year.

New models on the way

Polestar is heading into a run of launches over the coming months. According to Lohscheller, the first customer deliveries of the Polestar 5 are imminent, and production of the Polestar 4 SUV has started, with the first cars expected to reach customers during the fourth quarter.

The brand currently lists four models — Polestar 2, 3, 4 and 5 — with a new variant of the Polestar 4 due in Q4 2026, a successor to the Polestar 2 in early 2027, the compact Polestar 7 SUV in 2028 and the Polestar 6 roadster to follow.

What it means

For a company that has spent recent years working through a difficult market, a return to record half-year volume — however slim the growth — signals stabilisation rather than the sharp declines seen at some points. The real test will be whether the incoming Polestar 5 and Polestar 4 SUV can lift second-half numbers and offset a quarter that ran below 2025’s pace.

Facts: Polestar H1 2026

  • First-half deliveries: 30,423 cars (est.), +0.4% year on year
  • First-half deliveries excl. US: 28,562 cars (est.), +3.1%
  • Q2 deliveries: 17,296 cars (est.), -4.0%
  • Q2 deliveries excl. US: 16,175 cars (est.), -3.9%
  • Retail network: 235 sales locations, +39% year on year
  • Available in 31 markets

First customer deliveries of the Polestar 5 are due shortly, with the Polestar 4 SUV expected to reach buyers in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Source: www.linkedin.com