Summary：**Tesla rival Polestar's U.S. exit leaves EV owners fearing plunging resale values and lack of long‑

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**Tesla rival Polestar's U.S. exit leaves EV owners fearing plunging resale values and lack of long‑term support**

**Introduction**
Polestar, the Swedish electric‑vehicle brand backed by Volvo and Geely, announced it will withdraw from the United States market later this year. The decision stems from tightening federal connected‑vehicle regulations and persistently thin profit margins. While the company pledged to honor existing warranties and continue software updates for a limited period, the move has sparked anxiety among current owners and independent dealers who worry about the long‑term viability of their investments.

**Key Developments**
The exit plan, disclosed in a press release on October 28, cites the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s new cybersecurity mandates for connected vehicles as a primary obstacle. Compliance would require costly hardware upgrades and ongoing data‑management expenses that Polestar deems untenable given its current U.S. sales volume—under 15,000 units in 2023. In response, the automaker will cease new vehicle sales, halt parts shipments to U.S. service centers after December 31, and transition existing customers to a third‑party support network for warranty claims. Dealers have been instructed to stop taking new orders and to inform buyers about the forthcoming changes.

**Industry Analysis**
Analysts say Polestar’s retreat underscores a broader challenge for niche EV makers attempting to scale in a market dominated by Tesla’s scale and legacy automakers’ deep dealer networks. The federal connected‑vehicle rules, aimed at safeguarding data privacy and preventing remote hacking, have disproportionately affected smaller manufacturers that lack the resources to retrofit existing fleets. Moreover, Polestar’s reliance on a direct‑to‑consumer sales model limits its ability to leverage franchised dealerships for after‑sales support, amplifying concerns about parts scarcity. Industry observers note that resale prices for