Polestar can no longer sell new cars in the United States past the 2027 model year. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security denied the EV maker, owned by China’s Geely group, the approval it needs to keep selling vehicles in America, pointing to the Connected Vehicle Rule. Washington has spent months working to block cars built and exported from China, with the Trump administration casting the effort as protection for domestic manufacturing. Polestar happens to be the latest brand swept up in it. The decision lands hardest on the Polestar 3, the only model the automaker builds here in the United States, assembled at its South Carolina factory since 2024. Those American-made examples don’t stay local either, since they’re shipped across to Europe as well. What happens to that operation now is an open question. Existing inventory appears to be safe for now, with whatever 3 and 4 stock remains in the States still up for sale. Still, with the brand effectively locked out of the country, the question is whether anyone will actually want one, even with a promise to keep servicing those cars and looking after the people who already bought them. Polestar doesn’t appear to be contesting the decision either. By the company’s own numbers, the U.S. was never where the money came from, as 94 percent of its retail sales in the first quarter of 2026 landed outside America. CEO Michael Lohscheller is pointing what’s left toward Europe and other growth markets. “The automotive industry is entering a new phase, based on regional dynamics,” he said in a statement. “Our strategy reflects that, with Europe being our largest growth engine and our plan to manufacture Polestar 7 in Europe,” Lohscheller continued. “Our record sales in 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 show that we are making strong progress, with several new market launches taking place in Europe this year. In addition, we will continue to invest in markets where we have opportunities to continue to grow, like Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Canada.”* This is a developing story