Overview
- The U.S. Department of Commerce denied Polestar a license to introduce new model‑year 2027 and later connected vehicles in the U.S., a decision publicized on Friday, June 26, 2026.
- The restriction stems from the Connected Vehicle Rule (RIN 0694‑AJ56), which blocks sales of road vehicles up to 4.5 tonnes when the maker or key networking software suppliers are tied to China or Russia.
- Polestar may continue to sell cars already in U.S. stock from model years 2026 and earlier, but the company says it will shift its commercial emphasis toward Europe where most of its sales currently occur.
- A related licensing process allows exemptions, and Volvo received one while Polestar was denied, but regulators and the company have not explained the differing outcomes and the process is described as opaque.
- The rule expands in model year 2030 to bar imports of networking hardware and spare parts, raising concerns about long‑term aftersales support in the U.S. and signalling broader tech‑security limits on China‑linked EVs.