Polestar UK sales nearly halve in August: what it means for buyers
Polestar registered 366 cars in the UK in August, down 49.8% on a year earlier, just as the Polestar 4 SUV opens for orders from £54,750. Here is what the fall means if you are thinking of buying one.
Quick answers
- Polestar registered 366 cars in the UK in August 2026, down 49.8% from 729 in August 2025, after a 31% fall to 568 in July.
- The slide follows a strong first half, when UK registrations rose 9.2% to 9,086 cars, and globally Polestar reported record retail sales of 30,423 in the same six months.
- The Polestar 4 SUV starts at £54,750 for the rear-motor car, £2,000 below the £56,750 coupe, with first UK deliveries due in the fourth quarter of 2026.
- The Polestar 7 compact SUV is confirmed for 2028, so the range will rely on the Polestar 4 for some time.
Polestar registered just 366 cars in the UK in August 2026, down 49.8% from 729 a year earlier, as reported by Electric Vehicles. It is the second weak month in a row, and it lands just as the brand opens orders for a cheaper, more practical Polestar 4 SUV. For a UK buyer, the question is whether a brand under sales pressure is a risk or a bargaining opportunity.
How bad are Polestar’s UK numbers?
July’s 568 registrations were 31% lower than a year earlier, and August’s 366 were 36% below July. Both months sit below 1,000 cars, in a market where September set a record for electric registrations. The pattern is a drop from a strong start, not a weak year throughout.
| Period | Polestar UK registrations | Change on a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| First half 2026 | 9,086 | Up 9.2% |
| July 2026 | 568 | Down 31% |
| August 2026 | 366 | Down 49.8% |
Source: Electric Vehicles.
Is this a global problem?
Not on Polestar’s own numbers. It reported record global retail sales of 30,423 cars in the first half of 2026. The global record and the UK fall cover different periods, so they do not contradict each other. Our look at which EV brands are winning and losing shows how crowded the premium end has become.
What is Polestar doing about it?
The most direct answer is the Polestar 4 SUV, which gets a rear window the coupe lacks and is priced below it. UK list prices are before any dealer discount. All are above the £42,000 Electric Car Grant price cap, so none qualifies for the grant:
| Version | UK list price | Range (WLTP) |
|---|---|---|
| Polestar 4 SUV rear motor | £54,750 | Up to 391 miles |
| Polestar 4 SUV dual motor | £60,750 | Up to 373 miles |
| Polestar 4 SUV dual motor, Performance pack | £68,250 | Not quoted in our sources |
| Polestar 4 coupe (starting price) | £56,750 | Not quoted in our sources |
Sources: The EV Report, Select Car Leasing and Irish News. The dual motor makes 544hp, and the SUV adds vehicle-to-load (V2L) of up to 3.3kW through an optional adapter. Boot space is 530 litres, rising to 1,665 litres with the seats folded. First deliveries are planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.
Further out, the Polestar 7 compact SUV is confirmed for 2028, so the Polestar 4 has to carry the brand for the next couple of years.
How does it compare with the rivals?
A rear-motor Polestar 4 SUV at £54,750 sits well above the Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD, listed at £44,990 with 383 miles of range. It also costs far more than the BMW iX1 eDrive20 Sport, which electrive reports now starts at £37,065 before the Electric Car Grant. The Polestar’s argument is range and size, not a lower price. Our Tesla Model Y vs BMW iX1 comparison covers that end of the market, and the best long-range electric SUVs list shows where else you can look.
What this means for you
Weak sales usually mean more negotiating room, but we have not found a published UK Polestar 4 discount, so ask your retailer for a written quote rather than assuming one. If you want a Polestar 4, compare the SUV and coupe on price and rear visibility, check lease and salary sacrifice quotes against the cash price, and look at family-friendly electric SUVs before you commit. With carmakers also pushing for volume under the ZEV mandate, the autumn is a sensible time to ask for a better deal on any premium EV.
How we test and where our numbers come from
Range figures are official WLTP combined values taken from manufacturer UK specification pages, with real-world estimates drawn from independent comparative testing. Prices are UK list prices at the time of the latest update. Tax, grant and charging-scheme figures come from GOV.UK and HMRC publications. We re-check every guide when pricing, specification or policy changes. Last checked 6 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much did Polestar UK sales fall in August 2026?
Polestar registered 366 cars in the UK in August 2026, down 49.8% from 729 in August 2025, as reported by Electric Vehicles, which we have not checked against SMMT's own release. July was also weak at 568 cars, a 31% fall year on year.
How much does the Polestar 4 SUV cost in the UK?
UK list prices start at £54,750 for the rear-motor car, £60,750 for the dual-motor and £68,250 with the Performance pack. The coupe starts at £56,750.
When will the Polestar 4 SUV be delivered in the UK?
Polestar says first deliveries are planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.
Is Polestar in trouble?
The UK figures for July and August are weak, but the first half of 2026 was up 9.2% in the UK and Polestar reported a global retail record of 30,423 cars for the six months to June. Two weak months do not settle the full-year picture.
Sources and further reading
- eletric-vehicles.comElectric VehiclesPrimary source referenced in this article.
- barchart.comPolestar retail sales reach a record 30,423 cars in the first half of 2026Global first-half retail sales record.
- theevreport.comPolestar 4 SUV Launches With 391-Mile WLTP RangeUK prices for all three versions, range, power and V2L.
- selectcarleasing.co.ukNew Polestar 4 SUV launchesPrices, boot space and Q4 2026 deliveries.
- irishnews.comUpgraded Polestar 4 goes on sale priced from £56,750Coupe starting price of £56,750.
- carmagazine.co.ukPolestar 7: confirmed for launch in 2028Polestar 7 timing.
- electrive.comBMW iX1 and iX2 qualify for UK's ECG after price cutsiX1 eDrive20 Sport price before grant.
- electrive.comTesla Model Y Long Range RWD comes to the UKModel Y Long Range RWD price and range.
EV Compared
The EV Compared editorial team tracks the UK electric vehicle market full time: new model launches, list prices, WLTP and real-world range, public charging tariffs and the tax rules that decide what an EV actually costs to run. Every guide is checked against manufacturer specifications and official GOV.UK figures, and updated whenever the numbers move.
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