The Polestar 6 electric roadster, 95% engineered, faces a 100% import tariff in the U.S. This would push its expected $200,000 price tag into the ultra-luxury stratosphere, making it one of the world's most expensive vehicles, according to Robb Report. The financial impact effectively renders a nearly finished halo car commercially unviable for a key market.
Despite its advanced development, the Polestar 6's intended Chinese production location makes it commercially unviable for the critical U.S. market due to these tariffs. The Polestar 5 sedan, also built in China, currently starts at $140,000 and would similarly double in price with a 100-percent tariff, effectively pricing Polestar's high-end Chinese-made EVs out of the U.S. luxury segment, Robb Report states.
Therefore, Polestar is likely to either delay the Polestar 6's U.S. launch indefinitely, seek alternative production sites, or pivot resources to more commercially viable models, effectively sidelining a nearly finished halo product.
The Road to Readiness: Polestar 6's Advanced Engineering
Engineering on the Polestar 6 electric roadster is 95% complete, requiring only finalization for its folding hardtop and rear seats, according to Autoua and Carscoops. The vehicle's near-total readiness represents a significant investment, yet the vehicle's market viability is now dictated by external economic factors rather than its technical prowess.
Tariffs Force a Strategic Re-evaluation
Polestar is now prioritizing the delivery of more accessible models to the U.S. market, specifically the Polestar 7 and the next-generation Polestar 2, Robb Report confirms. The strategic shift decisively moves focus away from high-end, tariff-vulnerable vehicles. Companies like Polestar, caught in the crossfire of trade wars, are being forced to make difficult choices. They must either absorb prohibitive tariffs, relocate manufacturing at immense cost, or abandon significant R&D investments in products like the Polestar 6 for key markets.
Broader Product Pipeline and Market Focus
Polestar's broader product pipeline includes the Polestar 5, a new Polestar 4, the next-generation Polestar 2, and the Polestar 7 crossover, all slated for release by 2028, according to inkl. The extensive roadmap confirms a strategic re-prioritization of offerings. The re-evaluation aims to navigate tariff challenges and maximize market penetration with more viable models. The U.S. 100% import tariff on Chinese-made EVs is not merely a revenue-generating measure; it's a powerful non-tariff barrier that fundamentally reshapes the competitive landscape, effectively dictating which models can enter the market.
The Path Forward: SUVs Over Roadsters?
Polestar could prioritize developing and producing an SUV on the same platform as the Polestar 5 and 6, a move that might prove more commercially viable, inkl reports. The move represents a pragmatic shift towards more profitable segments. Such a shift would likely come at the expense of niche luxury projects like the Polestar 6. It also necessitates a re-evaluation of production locations for high-end models to circumvent tariff impacts.
By Q3 2026, Polestar will likely face continued pressure to refine its U.S. product strategy, potentially pushing the Polestar 6 further into the future or compelling a shift towards more commercially viable SUV platforms and alternative production sites.
