The US Government bans Chinese car maker Polestar from the US market
Connected car rules now decide market access, and carmakers with Chinese links risk being shut out of the US.
Key takeaways
- Polestar will stop selling model year 2027 and later electric vehicles in the US after being refused authorisation under the Connected Vehicle Rule.
- The rule, passed under the Biden administration, blocks vehicles with software from countries of concern, including China, home of Polestar owner Geely.
- It covers connected parts such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 5G and satellite components, and bans China from testing self-driving cars on US soil.
- Polestar will keep selling its existing US stock, and had warned in January 2025 that it would have to leave the US.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2026) 'The US Government bans Chinese car maker Polestar from the US market', Fanatical Futurist, 25 Jun 2026. Available at: https://www.fanaticalfuturist.com/2026/06/polestar-us-ban-connected-vehicle-rule/
Following on from the historic US Government ban on the foreign use of Anthropic’s Mythos AI model electric car company Polestar won’t be allowed to sell its electric vehicles model year 2027 and beyond in the US after the federal government denied the company’s request for authorisation under a new rule banning vehicles with software from China.
In a press release, the company says the decision to retreat from the US follows a recent decision by the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security to not grant Polestar an authorisation under the current Connected Vehicle Rule to sell vehicles from model year 2027 and beyond. The rule, which passed under the Biden administration, blocks the import and sale of any vehicle with software from “countries of concern,” which includes China. Polestar is owned by Geely, one of the largest automakers in China.
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The rule covers everything that connects a vehicle to the outside world, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 5G, and satellite components. It also addresses concerns that technology like cameras, sensors, and onboard computers could be exploited by foreign adversaries to collect sensitive data about US citizens and infrastructure. And it bans China from testing its self-driving cars on US soil.
Polestar has been preparing for the rule to go into effect for more than a year. The automaker, which sells its Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 electric vehicles in the US, had predicted back in January 2025 that it would have to pull out of the US if it went into effect. The Polestar 3 is made in the US, at the automaker’s factory in South Carolina, while the Polestar 4 is assembled in South Korea.
The company says it will continue to sell its existing stock of vehicles to US customers, but will stop marketing and sales of its vehicles model year 2027 and onwards in the US.
“Supporting our customers remains our highest priority,” spokesperson Michael Ofiara said in a statement.
FAQ
Why is Polestar leaving the US market?
The Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security refused Polestar authorisation under the Connected Vehicle Rule, which blocks vehicles with software from countries of concern such as China. Polestar is owned by Chinese automaker Geely, so it cannot sell model year 2027 and later vehicles in the US.
What is the Connected Vehicle Rule?
It is a US rule, passed under the Biden administration, that blocks the import and sale of vehicles with software from countries of concern, including China. It covers Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 5G, satellite components, cameras, sensors and onboard computers that could be used to collect data on US citizens.
Which Polestar cars are affected?
Polestar sells the Polestar 3, made in South Carolina, and the Polestar 4, assembled in South Korea, in the US. It will stop marketing and selling all vehicles from model year 2027 onwards in the US.
Will Polestar still sell cars to US customers?
Yes, for now. Polestar says it will keep selling its existing stock of vehicles to US customers, and a spokesperson said supporting customers remains its highest priority, but sales of model year 2027 and later vehicles will stop.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Source: first published by Fanatical Futurist on 25 Jun 2026. You are welcome to quote this article with credit and a link to the original.