Volvo’s electric car offshoot Polestar has joined the list of brands forced to remove features as a result of the semiconductor shortage, with matrix LED headlights cut from the options list of its debut electric car to keep production lines moving.
Polestar will cut three light-related features – including Pixel LED matrix headlights, an upgrade over the regular LEDs fitted as standard – from the Polestar 2 sedan’s optional Pilot Pack for cars built for most global markets from March 21 onwards.
With Pixel LED headlights and the other two features – cornering functionality for the front fog lights, and welcome and farewell light sequence animations – removed from the Pilot Pack, its price is understood to drop from $5000 to $3400.
The change will apply to Polestar 2 vehicles with the option box ticked that are built for all markets (except the US and Canada) from 21 March 2022 onwards. Cars already produced, or due to roll off the line prior to that date will not be affected.
Standard LED headlights with auto high beams will remain, however, as will LED fog lights without cornering functionality, and ‘fade in and out’ sequences for the headlights. No date has been given for the return of the unavailable features.
Adaptive cruise control, Pilot Assist semi-autonomous driving, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and the other contents of the Pilot Pack are unaffected.
“Due to the global shortage of semiconductors from suppliers, certain features in the Pilot Pack for Polestar 2 will not be available in newly produced cars and will be replaced by features currently available on the car as standard,” a statement from Polestar Australia to Drive reads.
“The Pixel LED headlights with bending and adaptive high beam functionality have been replaced with standard LED headlights with active high beam functionality, and welcome and farewell light sequences animations are to be replaced with fade in and out animation. Front LED fog lamps will remain available, but without the cornering function.
“These changes affect Polestar 2 cars produced from [the week commencing] 21 March 2022, for all Polestar markets except US and Canada.
“We are reviewing all existing orders and identifying those affected. We will contact affected customers directly from [the week commencing] 14 March 2022 to inform them of the feature change and compensation.
“We continue to work to mitigate the impact of the global semiconductor shortage on our production, and to prioritise semiconductors in the best way we can,” the statement concludes.
As the Pilot Pack is an option, the Polestar 2 retains its base pricing before options of $59,900 to $69,900 plus on-road costs. First deliveries are due to commence in March.
Polestar follows Mercedes-Benz in limiting the availability of options on its vehicle, with the German car maker recently removing the option of the Engineering Package – comprised of adaptive suspension and rear-axle steering – for its new C-Class mid-size sedan.
Other brands such as Audi, BMW, Ford, Peugeot, Skoda and Volkswagen have also removed features from standard feature lists, or made them temporarily unavailable.
Keyword: 2022 Polestar 2 option pack cut back amid semiconductor shortage