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Polestar is banned in the US, but we still want its latest concept car
Polestar has unveiled the Formula 2030, a concept electric sports car showcasing design and technology it may use in future models. Its US prospects are limited: from 2027, a federal rule is due to prevent Polestar from selling new models there unless it receives authorisation.
The rule restricts cars using certain software or hardware from China or Russia. Polestar is majority-owned by China’s Geely, while Volvo, also under Geely, has received authorisation. The 53-inch-tall, 184-inch-long concept features inflatable seat bolsters, physical controls, a concealed pop-up LiDAR sensor and Google Gemini voice control; Polestar says some design elements will appear in a Polestar 2 successor in 2027 and a Polestar 7 SUV expected in 2028.
In short
- Polestar’s Formula 2030 is a concept, not a car for sale.
- A US rule could block its new models from 2027.
- Some of its design is planned for future Polestars.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
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The case for
The rule can be defended as a precaution to protect national security and connected vehicles from risks associated with software or hardware supplied by foreign adversaries. Requiring authorisation gives the government a way to assess those risks while allowing manufacturers such as Polestar to seek approval, as Volvo has done.
The case against
The rule may unfairly burden Polestar because of its ownership, even when specific vehicles or systems could be shown to meet security requirements. Restricting new models could reduce consumer choice and competition, and delay access to designs and technology that Polestar says it plans to bring to future cars.
Explained simply
Polestar is an electric car maker majority-owned by China’s Geely, which also owns a stake in Volvo. Its Formula 2030 is a concept car: a showcase for possible future designs and technology, rather than a model on sale.
US rules due to take effect in 2027 restrict new cars using certain software or hardware from China or Russia, and Polestar would need authorisation to sell new models there. Volvo has received authorisation, but Polestar’s position is limited by its ownership and the rules.
Polestar says some features and design ideas from the concept may appear in a successor to its Polestar 2 in 2027 and a Polestar 7 SUV expected in 2028. The rules matter to the company’s access to the US market, while the concept offers a glimpse of technology it may use in future cars.