Latest news with #Polestar
Auto Blog
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
NHTSA Opens Probe Into Nearly 28,000 Polestar 2s
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. View post: Walmart is selling a 'powerful' $199 lawn mower for $100, and shoppers say it's 'easy to operate' Polestar 2 owners face another recall for a recurring issue The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal agency within the Department of Transportation responsible for automotive safety, announced on July 11 that it had opened a formal investigation into the Polestar 2 after complaints continue to pile up as the electric vehicle's rear-view camera continues to malfunction, even after multiple software fixes issued by the manufacturer. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:09 Full screen Tesla sales in Europe drop yet again Watch More The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), the division that handles recalls at the NHTSA, is investigating whether Polestar's remedies are adequate following two previous recalls that tried to fix the problem. The agency says it has received 109 consumer complaints involving 2021 through 2025 model year Polestar 2 vehicles, which allege that the rear-view camera image may be delayed, distorted, or not even show a picture at all when it is supposed to be crystal clear while backing up, which can significantly reduce visibility and potentially increase the risk of a crash. 2025 Polestar 2 — Source: Polestar So far, no crashes, injuries, or fatalities have been linked to this specific issue, which affects an estimated 27,816 Polestar 2 vehicles. However, under federal safety standards, specifically the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 (FMVSS 111) regarding rear visibility, all vehicles sold in the United States are required to provide a functioning rear-view camera that displays a clear image when said cars are shifted into reverse. Any failure to meet that standard can trigger regulatory action. The Volvo-linked Swedish EV brand backed by Geely first issued recall 24V-477 on June 26, 2024, which affected certain 2021–2024 Polestar 2 models. At the time, Polestar stated that the issue stemmed from graphical rendering limitations in the Infotainment Head Unit (IHU), which could prevent the rear-view camera feed from displaying correctly. 'Polestar proposed to remedy this condition via a software update to minimize an Infotainment Head Unit (IHU) graphical rendering limitation by shortening the retry times of the camera streams, as well as removing the rendering of the map in the driver display during backing events to release the graphic memory for the use of the rear-view camera,' ODI wrote in its report. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Polestar 2 — Source: Polestar However, that remedy didn't entirely fix the problem, as owners continued to report failures, even in vehicles that received the fix. This revelation triggered a second recall, specifically recall 25V-280 in April 2025, which expanded the scope of the problem and tried to fix it with a more drastic solution through an over-the-air software update. 'Polestar's stated remedy for this recall provided an additional software update intended to always maintain the high-speed signal connection between the Parking Assist Camera (PAC) and IHU, instead of toggling on and off by request. The update would also be designed to add a reset of the IHU video signal receiving hardware in case a synchronization error is detected, instead of just setting an error message.' Despite two different software bumps, complaints over the same issue started rolling in again. ODI says that on June 21, 2025, it began receiving reports from Polestar 2 owners who said their rear-view cameras were still not working properly, even after the latest update. By July, Polestar confirmed to ODI that its most recent over-the-air fix did not resolve the issue, which prompted the agency to launch a Recall Query to determine whether additional action is required. Final thoughts The sophisticated tech that goes into software-defined vehicles is cool and all, but what this situation highlights is that in this new era, there could be a gap between diagnosing and resolving hardware-software interactions that may not be easily corrected through traditional over-the-air updates. While OTA updates are faster and more convenient than dealer-based repairs, they may not always actually fulfill the reason why a recall is issued: to fix things. However, this is not the first time an automaker has had to readdress a previously 'fixed' problem, and the latest situation involving 1.2 million Ram trucks is proof that even analog, go-to-the-dealer type recalls cannot fix everything. About the Author James Ochoa View Profile
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Polestar 3 recalled
Polestar is recalling its flagship model, the Polestar 3 large electric SUV, as moisture could prevent the vehicle from restarting. "Due to a manufacturing defect, moisture may enter the bumper wiring harness causing corrosion," the company says in its recall notice. "This could result in reduced efficiency of the power assisted steering and a loss of safety systems such as pilot and park assist features. "Additionally, unable to restart the vehicle. "A loss of safety systems such as power steering assist, pilot and park assist and/or unable to restart the vehicle could increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users." The recall notice lists 172 vehicles as being affected in Australia, produced between 2024 and 2025. However, only 60 of these have been delivered to customers already. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. If you have an affected vehicle, you'll need to contact a Polestar 'partner' to have the vehicle inspected as soon as possible and the work carried out, free of charge. If you have any further questions, you can contact Polestar Customer Care on (02) 9423 0876. MORE: Explore the Polestar 3 showroom Content originally sourced from: Polestar is recalling its flagship model, the Polestar 3 large electric SUV, as moisture could prevent the vehicle from restarting. "Due to a manufacturing defect, moisture may enter the bumper wiring harness causing corrosion," the company says in its recall notice. "This could result in reduced efficiency of the power assisted steering and a loss of safety systems such as pilot and park assist features. "Additionally, unable to restart the vehicle. "A loss of safety systems such as power steering assist, pilot and park assist and/or unable to restart the vehicle could increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users." The recall notice lists 172 vehicles as being affected in Australia, produced between 2024 and 2025. However, only 60 of these have been delivered to customers already. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. If you have an affected vehicle, you'll need to contact a Polestar 'partner' to have the vehicle inspected as soon as possible and the work carried out, free of charge. If you have any further questions, you can contact Polestar Customer Care on (02) 9423 0876. MORE: Explore the Polestar 3 showroom Content originally sourced from: Polestar is recalling its flagship model, the Polestar 3 large electric SUV, as moisture could prevent the vehicle from restarting. "Due to a manufacturing defect, moisture may enter the bumper wiring harness causing corrosion," the company says in its recall notice. "This could result in reduced efficiency of the power assisted steering and a loss of safety systems such as pilot and park assist features. "Additionally, unable to restart the vehicle. "A loss of safety systems such as power steering assist, pilot and park assist and/or unable to restart the vehicle could increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users." The recall notice lists 172 vehicles as being affected in Australia, produced between 2024 and 2025. However, only 60 of these have been delivered to customers already. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. If you have an affected vehicle, you'll need to contact a Polestar 'partner' to have the vehicle inspected as soon as possible and the work carried out, free of charge. If you have any further questions, you can contact Polestar Customer Care on (02) 9423 0876. MORE: Explore the Polestar 3 showroom Content originally sourced from: Polestar is recalling its flagship model, the Polestar 3 large electric SUV, as moisture could prevent the vehicle from restarting. "Due to a manufacturing defect, moisture may enter the bumper wiring harness causing corrosion," the company says in its recall notice. "This could result in reduced efficiency of the power assisted steering and a loss of safety systems such as pilot and park assist features. "Additionally, unable to restart the vehicle. "A loss of safety systems such as power steering assist, pilot and park assist and/or unable to restart the vehicle could increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users." The recall notice lists 172 vehicles as being affected in Australia, produced between 2024 and 2025. However, only 60 of these have been delivered to customers already. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. If you have an affected vehicle, you'll need to contact a Polestar 'partner' to have the vehicle inspected as soon as possible and the work carried out, free of charge. If you have any further questions, you can contact Polestar Customer Care on (02) 9423 0876. MORE: Explore the Polestar 3 showroom Content originally sourced from:
Auto Express
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Watch out Tesla, Kia is on the attack again
If Kia's new EV4 hatchback didn't quite grab your attention when it went on sale earlier this summer then the new EV4 Fastback might do the trick. Pricing and specifications of the longer version of the EV4 are now available and order books are open, too, ahead of first deliveries this autumn. Advertisement - Article continues below While the EV4 hatchback gives Kia a fresh competitor against the likes of the Skoda Elroq and Volkswagen ID.3, the EV4 Fastback morphs into a saloon-style shape, offering an alternative to the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2. Pricing for the EV4 Fastback starts at £40,895 for the GT-Line and £45,395 for the GT-Line S. Those are the only two trim options available on the Fastback, which only comes with an 81.4kWh battery, while the EV4 hatchback can be had with the more basic 'Air' trim and with a smaller 58.3kWh pack from £34,695. Kia claims the EV4 Fastback is the most aerodynamic EV it's ever made, with a drag coefficient of 0.23. However, despite this and using the same size battery that's available in the EV4 hatchback, the EV4 Fastback tops out at 380 miles for both of those trim levels - the hatch can cover up to 388 miles. That's still a little way off the Polestar 2's maximum of 408 miles and the Tesla Model 3 Long Range's 436 miles. Sitting on the same 400V architecture as the hatch, the Fastback can recharge its 81.4kWh battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 29 minutes when using a 350kW fast charger. An 11kW AC charger will see the same top up take five hours and 20 minutes. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below As with the hatch, the Fastback gets a single front-mounted electric motor with 201bhp and 283Nm of torque, which is enough to get it from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds. That's a little slower than the hatch's 7.7-second time for the benchmark sprint, although the fastest model is the lighter EV4 hatchback with a larger 58.3kWh battery, which takes 7.4 seconds. Kia hasn't said how much the Fastback weighs, but we expect it to be heavier than the hatch considering its slightly lower range figure and slower acceleration time. Maintaining almost the exact same design as the EV4 concept revealed in late 2023, the Fastback is also 300mm longer than the hatch, with all of that coming from the rear overhang. The roofline is also 5mm lower, giving the Fastback a more rakish stance to go with the sloped rear roof. The latter tapers beyond the heads of the rear passengers, so hopefully interior space isn't impinged by the Fastback's proportions. The Fastback has a 490-litre, beating the hatch's 435-litre capacity. Those numbers don't tell the full the story, however, because the hatchback's more versatile opening area is likely to claw back some practicality points. All Kia EV4s, whether a hatch or Fastback, get the same dash layout, with a 12.3-inch driver's display and 12.3-inch central touchscreen, plus a 5.3-inch panel for climate controls in between. There's also wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, four USB-C ports throughout the cabin, automatic air-conditioning, heated front seats, LED lights front and rear, plus a slew of safety features, such as highway driving assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic avoidance. The EV4 Fastback GT-Line comes with 19-inch wheels, 'GT-Line' exterior styling, gloss black on the door mirrors, side sills and wheelarches, tinted rear windows, a two-tone artificial leather interior and a wireless smartphone charger. GT-Line S models add a sunroof, a unique LED headlight signature, heated outer rear seats, heated and ventilated front seats, an electric bootlid, a three-pin plug socket for the interior, a vehicle-to-load adapter, an uprated Harman Kardon sound system, a head-up display, a 360-degree camera and a heat pump. Now you can buy a car through our network of top dealers around the UK. Search for the latest deals… Find a car with the experts New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 Electric Car Grant for new EVs sold under £3… Electric Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake will keep going long after rivals need to stop Electric Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake will keep going long after rivals need to stop The second of Merc's new-era EVs is here in the form of an attractive estate with a huge range
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Will Tariffs Bring Volvo's Popular SUVs to American Factories?
Will Tariffs Bring Volvo's Popular SUVs to American Factories? originally appeared on Autoblog. Your next Volvo might be made in the USA According to a new report by Automotive News, Swedish automotive powerhouse Volvo may be considering shifting production of two of its most popular models to its U.S. production facilities to mitigate the most severe effects of President Trump's tariffs on its imported models. Two people familiar with the plan told AutoNews that the Swedes plan to build two of their popular crossovers, the midsize XC60 and the full-size XC90, at their factory outside of Charleston, in Ridgeville, South Carolina. They state that production of the smaller XC60 would commence first in January 2027, with the larger XC90 to follow in October 2028. View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article According to one of the sources who spoke with AutoNews, Volvo expects to build about 60,000 XC60s and 50,000 XC90s annually in the U.S., which would take advantage of the factory's 150,000-vehicle capacity. Currently, the brand makes just two cars at the South Carolina factory: Volvo's own EX90 electric full-size SUV and the Polestar 3 for its sister EV brand. June 2025 Volvo Car USA sales numbers reveal that the two bestselling Volvo vehicles in the States are the cars that are alleged to be localized. In the first half of the year, Volvo sold 21,907 units of the mid-size XC60 and 19,748 units of the full-size XC90. In total, the two crossover SUVs made up a whopping 64% of the 64,680 cars it moved in the U.S. through June. Volvo is currently shuffling its cards The news of the alleged plans comes amid the news of some significant financial speed bumps for the Swedes. According to a July 14th report by Bloomberg, Volvo's car division is taking an impairment charge (a Wall Street and accounting term used to describe the diminishing in quality, strength, amount, or value of an asset) of 11.4 billion Swedish kronor (~$1.2 billion) due to delays to some of its electric models and the escalating cost of tariffs. Specifically, Volvo is pinning the charges on hiccups related to the electric EX90 SUV and its electric sedan counterpart, the ES90. In a statement, they note that increased development costs have cut into potential profits from the EX90. Additionally, Volvo has raised concerns that tariffs have made the ES90 unfeasible for sale in the U.S. and threaten any EU sales profits. 'Given market developments such as import tariffs in the US, development and launch delays for the EX90, and strategic investment prioritizations, we have reassessed volume assumptions for these two cars. This has resulted in a lower than planned lifecycle profitability,' Volvo Cars CFO Fredrik Hansson said in a statement. Recently, Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson shared that the company would be taking a page from Nissan's book and starting its own austerity program, aiming to save over 18 billion kronor (about $1.85 billion). Part of this plan includes cutting 7% of the global workforce, which means around 3,000 jobs. These changes come after Volvo saw a 60% drop in operating income for the first quarter, and they're meant to help steady the company as it deals with tougher trade tariffs and slowing demand for EVs. However, since rejoining the company on April 1, Samuelsson has hinted at significant plans for the South Carolina factory, stating in a May Bloomberg interview that the company wants to "bring in something rather fast, and something selling in good numbers," adding that "something midsize core is a good guess. Additionally, the Volvo CEO has publicly expressed that he sees the situation with Trump's tariffs as an opportunity to boost and localize U.S. production. During Volvo's annual general meeting on April 3, Samuelsson told shareholders that globalization is being "dismantled," adding that they need to 'learn from the Chinese how to localize." 'To get around these high 25 percent import tariffs, we need to look at localizing more, increasing the volumes in the factory, and getting the volumes up to get the cost down,' he said. Final thoughts Volvo is not alone in its resilience against the current tariff agenda set by the administration. However, the company has faced some unfortunate decisions in the past regarding its South Carolina plant. For example, the factory opened in 2018 to produce the S60 sedan, just as the sedan market began to shift toward crossover SUVs. Last year, Volvo started assembling the EX90 SUV at this plant and later introduced the Polestar 3, but demand for electric vehicles (EVs) has since slowed down. However, Volvo CEO Samuelsson seems committed to revitalizing Volvo after a period of unstable leadership. Although he is determined to increase American production of high-volume models amidst challenging trade discussions between nearly every nation, any decisions about the company's future must be carefully calculated. Will Tariffs Bring Volvo's Popular SUVs to American Factories? first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 15, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
7NEWS
6 days ago
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Polestar 3 recalled
Polestar is recalling its flagship model, the Polestar 3 large electric SUV, as moisture could prevent the vehicle from restarting. 'Due to a manufacturing defect, moisture may enter the bumper wiring harness causing corrosion,' the company says in its recall notice. 'This could result in reduced efficiency of the power assisted steering and a loss of safety systems such as pilot and park assist features. 'Additionally, unable to restart the vehicle. 'A loss of safety systems such as power steering assist, pilot and park assist and/or unable to restart the vehicle could increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users.' The recall notice lists 172 vehicles as being affected in Australia, produced between 2024 and 2025. However, only 60 of these have been delivered to customers already. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) list is attached here The original recall notice is attached here If you have an affected vehicle, you'll need to contact a Polestar 'partner' to have the vehicle inspected as soon as possible and the work carried out, free of charge. If you have any further questions, you can contact Polestar Customer Care on (02) 9423 0876.
