Preliminary U.S. deliveries of the Polestar 3 and Volvo EX90 are prone to be delayed by months as a result of a software-related concern spanning these fashions’ shared platform, the 2 Swedish EV makers confirmed Thursday. 

The impression could also be most important for Polestar, as U.S. deliveries of the Polestar 3 electrical SUV gained’t begin later this yr as initially supposed. 

Manufacturing of the Polestar 3 will begin within the first quarter of 2024, Polestar confirmed Thursday. It had been as a result of begin in summer time 2023 in China, with deliveries due there and within the U.S. later within the yr. In the meantime, U.S. manufacturing was as a result of begin in 2024, with the South Carolina plant positioned to be the manufacturing supply for the electrical SUV for all world markets besides China. 

“Polestar was just lately knowledgeable that further time for remaining software program growth of the brand new all-electric platform shared by Volvo Vehicles is required and that the beginning of manufacturing of Polestar 3 is now anticipated within the first quarter of 2024,” Polestar stated in an announcement issued Thursday. 

2024 Polestar 3

2024 Polestar 3

2024 Polestar 3

What this implies, Polestar confirmed to Inexperienced Automotive Experiences, is that manufacturing will now not be ramped up some months earlier in China than in South Carolina; as an alternative, the 2 vegetation will ramp up across the similar time, subsequent yr. “Begin of Polestar 3 manufacturing in Ridgeville, South Carolina in the USA stays on monitor for mid-2024,” Polestar stated. 

Polestar additional clarified that the delay is totally as a result of software program growth and never a producing or supply-chain delay. China-market variations might be inbuilt China, whereas variations for the remainder of the world might be made in South Carolina. That plant, run by Volvo, stands out as the first of the automaker’s world vegetation making solely electrical vehicles. 

2025 Polestar 4

The launch of the Polestar 4, a extra reasonably priced mannequin that might rival the Tesla Mannequin Y, shouldn’t be affected by the delay, Polestar clarified, which implies it can go into manufacturing earlier than the three. The Polestar 4 might be out there in China within the fourth quarter of 2023 and different markets in early 2024, the corporate stated. 

After Polestar’s level over to Volvo because the supply of the delay, Volvo additionally confirmed that it has adjusted its start-of-production timing for the EX90, which is constructed on the identical platform. It stated in an announcement that it wants extra time in software program growth and testing “to make sure a high-quality introduction of the automotive and to maximise buyer profit from its know-how from day 1.”

2024 Volvo EX90 Excellence

A manufacturing begin of the Volvo EX90 had been as a result of begin by the tip of the yr, with first U.S. deliveries in early 2024. With a delayed manufacturing begin within the first half of 2024, the mannequin seems to be delayed by a number of months. 

With a big delay of months for these fashions, will reservation-holders wait? Or will they shift to rival fashions from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Rivian, and even Kia? With a really tight market and a quick provide of EVs, Volvo and Polestar could have to plan for some time beyond regulation.