The Gorgeous Polestar 6 EV Convertible May Be Delayed by U.S. Tariffs
Wondering where the Polestar 6 is? The White House may be behind the hold up.
In a recent interview with the automotive website Edmunds, the EV maker’s global head of product communications, Graeme Lambert, said the roadster has been pushed to the side so the brand can focus on more accessible models. The open-top two-door was always going to be a more expensive car, but tariffs move it into a territory that may scare off prospective buyers.
We first got a look at the convertible just over four years ago when it debuted as the 02 concept. The response was so strong that the automaker announced months later that it would put the vehicle into production as the 6. Initially, the drop top was supposed to be a limited-run vehicle, but when its 500 build slots immediately filled up, the company pivoted to an on-demand production model with an eye on the EV launching in 2026.
Polestar 6
Now, it’s not uncommon for a buzzy performance vehicle to not appear for a long time in the wake of an exciting announcement, as these things can get caught in production hell or be cancelled. But that’s not the case with the 6, according to Lambert. The executive says the convertible, which is a smaller and sportier version of the 5 sedan, is done.
“It is so closely related to the Polestar 5,” Lambert told the Edmunds. “The platform under Polestar 5’s architecture is essentially designed to be scalable … if you view the 6 as the two-door Polestar 5, essentially the componentry is already there.”
Instead, the issue is one of economics. The 5, which would, in theory, have more broad appeal than the 6, isn’t currently bound for the U.S. That’s because the stylish four-door is built in China, the country that Polestar’s parent company, Geely, calls home. The sedan starts at $140,000, a steep price that would be doubled after a 100-percent tariff was applied. The 6, on the other hand, is expected to start at $200,000 and would be one of the world’s most expensive vehicle post-tariff. That is the reason why Polestar, for the time being, will instead focus on more affordable models to bring stateside.
“The key for us is to deliver [the 7 and 2] correctly, drive the business forward, and then be in a position to do something else after,” said Lambert.
It’s good to know that the 6 could still come to the U.S., but it does sound like a lot needs to change for that to happen. Fortunately, for those who can’t wait to get behind the wheel of an open-top Polestar, the spike it gas prices does seem to be renewing interest in EVs in the U.S.
