Polestar has temporarily closed its online configurator for new custom Polestar 2 orders, citing exceptionally high demand for its popular electric vehicle. Despite a 6% increase in sales in 2023, Polestar faced challenges in the fourth quarter, marked by a decline compared to the third quarter, even with the introduction of the new Polestar 4 model.
Complicating matters further, Polestar received a setback as Volvo, its original parent company, decided to end its association with the brand, leaving Polestar’s fate in the hands of its remaining partner, Geely, and Polestar itself.
The recently launched facelift for the Polestar 2, typically expected to boost sales, saw an unusual dip in numbers between the third and fourth quarters. Speculation surrounds whether production scaling issues or customer awareness of the facelift contributed to this unexpected trend.
While uncertainties loom over Polestar’s future, the company’s order website presents a different picture. Customers attempting to configure new custom Polestar 2 vehicles in the US are greeted with a message stating that due to high demand, new factory orders are temporarily closed. Prospective buyers are encouraged to explore available inventory or check for similar cars with fast delivery.
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Interestingly, despite the reported demand surge, the configurator shows various available configurations in Southern California. The UK site displays a different error message for certain configurations, indicating unavailability for factory orders but providing a fast delivery option for others.
This move by Polestar echoes a common trend in the electric vehicle industry, where high pre-order volumes prompt companies to temporarily halt new orders until backlog issues are resolved. Notably, Tesla has implemented similar measures in the past.
In response to inquiries, a Polestar representative stated that the closure is “temporary and not related to suppliers or production or anything like that.” While lacking specific details, it is clear that the suspension of custom orders is a strategic response to overwhelming demand. Customers eager to place custom orders will need to wait for the configurator’s reopening or explore existing inventory options.
