Polestar has recorded its strongest third quarter and highest sales total through the first nine months of the year, although the gains were modest and its business outside the United States lost ground.
The Swedish EV maker reported estimated global retail sales of 14,371 vehicles in Q3 2026, up 1% from 14,222 a year earlier. Through September, sales reached 44,790 vehicles, an increase of 0.6% over the same period in 2025.
The regional breakdown tells a different story. Excluding the U.S., quarterly sales fell 8% to 12,211 vehicles, while nine-month sales slipped 0.5% to 40,773. Subtracting those figures from the global totals puts U.S. sales at 2,160 vehicles for the quarter, compared with 966 last year.
That means the U.S. market accounted for all of Polestar’s overall quarterly growth, offsetting a decline elsewhere.
Polestar Q3 Retail Sales
| Market | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global | 14,222 | 14,371 | +1% |
| Excluding U.S. | 13,256 | 12,211 | −8% |
Source: Polestar | Drive Tesla
The fact that sales in the U.S. buoyed the automaker’s overall sales is somewhat surprising. As we previously reported, Polestar is ending new vehicle sales in the U.S. beginning with the 2027 model year after being denied authorization under the Connected Vehicle Rule. Existing inventory can still be sold, but the company’s growth strategy now increasingly depends on other markets, including Canada.
“We delivered our best third quarter despite increasingly challenging market conditions,” said CEO Michael Lohscheller.
Polestar has also started customer deliveries of its flagship Polestar 5, while the new Polestar 4 SUV adds a more conventional alternative to the existing coupe.
For Canadian buyers, that SUV brings back a rear window and offers additional passenger and cargo space. Polestar previously said Canadian deliveries were expected in the fourth quarter, with local pricing still to be announced.
Related Articles:
- Polestar Posts Record First-Half Sales Ahead of U.S. Sales Ban
- Polestar exits U.S. market after Connected Vehicle Rule blocks 2027 models
- Polestar 4 SUV Coming to Canada With a Rear Window, But No Pricing Yet
- Polestar 5 Debuts With Supercar Power and Long-Range Capability
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