Polestar reports Q1 2025 revenue growth of 84% and significant gross margin improvement to positive
- Growing share of higher margin models in sales mix and continuing cost reduction measures start to drive financial and operational performance improvement
- Gross margin improved by 15ppts to 7% versus Q1 2024
- Net loss reduced by 31%; an Adjusted EBITDA loss improvement of 46% year-on-year
- Over
USD 900 million worth of financing facilities secured or renewed in Q1 2025 - Cash position of
USD 732 million as of end Q1 2025
GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN – 12 May 2025. Polestar (Nasdaq: PSNY) reports select financial and operational results for the quarter ended
Key financial highlights
(in millions of | For the three months ended |
| |
| 2025 | 2024 | Change % |
Revenue | 608 | 330 | 84.2 |
Gross margin % | 6.8% | -7.7% | +14.5ppts |
Net loss | (190) | (276) | (31.2) |
Adjusted EBITDA | (115) | (212) | (45.7) |
Cash balance | 732 | 784 | (6.6) |
- Retail sales totaled an estimated 12,304 cars, up 76.4% YoY supported by a growing uptake of newer models
- Revenue increased by
USD 278 million , up 84.2% YoY, driven predominantly by higher volumes and favorable shift in the product mix - Gross margin at a positive 6.8%, an improvement of 14.5ppts YoY, due to a growing share of higher margin models, however impacted by more competitive pricing compared with the Q1 2024 level
- Net loss of
USD 190 million , a decrease ofUSD 86 million , driven by gross profit improvement and fixed cost savings and a positive foreign exchange impact within net finance expenses, partially offset by our share of the losses in theJoint Venture (JV) withHubei Xingji Meizu Group Co. Ltd and lower positive fair value change of earn out rights - Adjusted EBITDA loss of
USD 115 million , decreased byUSD 97 million due to gross margin improvement, cost savings from headcount reduction in 2024, optimized marketing spend, and positive FX impacts partially offset by the share of losses in the JV inChina - Cash position of
USD 732 million is nearly at the same level as the 2024 year-end cash position ofUSD 739 million
Preliminary key operational highlights
The table below summarizes key preliminary operational highlights as of and for the three months ended
| For the three months ended | |||||
| 2025 | 2024 | % Change | |||
Retail sales 1 | 12,304 | 6,975 | 76.5 |
| ||
| 183 |
| 527 |
| (65.3) | |
| 395 |
| 234 |
| 68.8 |
|
Markets2 | 27 |
| 27 |
| unch |
|
Sales points3 | 159 |
| 158 |
| 0.6 |
|
of which sales points, excluding | 154 |
| 116 |
| 32.8 |
|
Service points4 | 1,190 |
| 1,173 |
| 1.4 |
|
(1) | Retail sales figures are sales to end customers. |
(2) | Represents the markets in which Polestar operates. |
(3) | Represents Sales Points, including retail locations which are physical facilities (such as showrooms), actively selling Polestar cars, and pre-space activations, which represent locations with an ongoing project to build a retail location that have already started selling Polestar cars. |
(4) | Represents |
Key loan facilities and funding highlights
- Over
USD 800 million in term facilities secured from several banks at the end of 2024 - Over
USD 900 million worth of facilities secured or renewed inFebruary 2025 - Further up to
USD 450 million in term facilities secured - Green Trade Finance Facility (TFF) with a syndicate of global banks renewed for
EUR 480 million
- Further up to
As previously announced regarding the Company’s
We continue to work closely with
The Company is still at an acceptable debt level in relation to its loan covenants.
Key recent developments
- Polestar to launch in
France in summer 2025 withStéphane Le Guevel appointed Managing Director - As a result of a change in market focus and strategy, the business of the JV in
China has been terminated and distribution rights transferred to Polestar. Polestar remains fully committed to the Chinese market and will continue to pursue its long-term strategy for growth and innovation, whilst protecting its premium brand position inChina .
Key business and operational highlights
- Polestar 2 model year 2026 introduced and available to order, including new features and technology updates
- Polestar 3 achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating, setting new standards for child occupancy protection
- Polestar
4 won ‘Car of the Year’ inSouth Korea - Digital key functionality added to Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 thanks to over-the-air update capability
- Polestar 2024 Annual Sustainability report published: CO2 emissions reduced by 25% per car sold
- Polestar Energy launched in 11 markets, offering customers smarter, more efficient and cheaper home charging
Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP measures
Adjusted EBITDA | ||
(in millions of | For the three months ended | |
| 2025 | 2024 |
Net loss | (190) | (276) |
Fair value change - Earn-out rights | (12) | (83) |
Fair value change - Class | 1 | (1) |
Finance income | (37) | (3) |
Finance expense | 93 | 125 |
Income tax expense | (1) | 2 |
Depreciation and amortization | 31 | 24 |
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) | (115) | (212) |
Conference call
Notes
All financial figures are in millions of
Calendar
Polestar expects to report its retail sales volumes for Q2 2025 on
Polestar uses both generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP,” i.e., IFRS) and non-GAAP (i.e., non-IFRS) financial measures to evaluate operating performance and for other strategic and financial decision-making purposes. Polestar believes non-GAAP financial measures are helpful to investors as they provide useful perspective on underlying business trends and assist in period-on-period comparisons. These measures also improve the ability of management and investors to assess and compare the financial performance and position of Polestar with those of other companies.
These non-GAAP measures are presented for supplemental information purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. The measures are not presented under a comprehensive set of accounting rules and, therefore, should only be read in conjunction with financial information reported under GAAP when assessing Polestar's operating performance.
The measures may not be the same as similarly titled measures used by other companies due to possible differences in calculation methods and items or events being adjusted. A reconciliation between non-GAAP financial measures and the most comparable GAAP performance measures is provided below.
The non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release are Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow:
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net loss, adjusted to exclude listing expense, fair value change - Earn-out rights, fair value change - Class
This measure is reviewed by management and management considers it to be a relevant measure for understanding the underlying operating results and trends of the core business prior to the impact of any adjusting items.
Prior to
The calculation was refined during
Statement regarding unaudited financial and operational results
The unaudited financial and operational information published in this press release is subject to potential adjustments. Potential adjustments to operational and consolidated financial information may be identified from work performed during Polestar’s year-end audit. This could result in differences from the unaudited operational and financial information published herein. For the avoidance of doubt, the unaudited operational and financial information published in this press release should not be considered a substitute for the financial information filed with the
Ends.
Contacts
Anna Gavrilova
Head of Investor Relations
anna.gavrilova@polestar.com
Theo Kjellberg
Head of Corporate Communication
Theo.kjellberg@polestar.com
About Polestar
Polestar (Nasdaq: PSNY) is the Swedish electric performance car brand with a focus on uncompromised design and innovation, and the ambition to accelerate the change towards a sustainable future. Headquartered in
Polestar has three models in its line-up: Polestar 2, Polestar 3, and Polestar 4. Planned models include the Polestar 5 four-door GT (to be introduced in 2025), the Polestar 6 roadster and the Polestar 7 compact SUV. With its vehicles currently manufactured on two continents,
Polestar has an unwavering commitment to sustainability and has set an ambitious roadmap to reach its climate targets: halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 per-vehicle-sold and become climate-neutral across its value chain by 2040. Polestar’s comprehensive sustainability strategy covers the four areas of
Forward-looking statements
Certain statements in this press release (“Press Release”) may be considered “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or the future financial or operating performance of Polestar including the number of vehicle deliveries and gross margin. For example, projections of revenue, volumes, margins, cash flow break-even and other financial or operating metrics and statements regarding expectations of future needs for funding and plans related thereto are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “will”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “predict”, “potential”, “forecast”, “plan”, “seek”, “future”, “propose” or “continue”, or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Polestar and its management, as the case may be, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: (1) Polestar’s ability to enter into or maintain agreements or partnerships with its strategic partners, including Volvo Cars and
Nothing in this Press Release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Polestar assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future, except as may be required by law.