Tesla rival Polestar closes R&D sites in the UK and lays off 130 staff

Core Insights - Polestar has shut down its two R&D sites in the UK and laid off 130 staff as part of a strategic shift to centralize R&D efforts in Sweden [1][2] - The decision follows the completion of engineering work for the Polestar 5 model, indicating a focus on streamlining operations [2] - The company is facing financial challenges, reporting a net loss of $1.03 billion in Q2 2025, while also experiencing a significant cash burn [3] Company Strategy - Polestar is centralizing its R&D work at its headquarters in Sweden to create a leaner organizational structure [2] - The company aims to focus on developing high-performance electric vehicles (EVs) [2] Market Position - Polestar's sales in the UK reached a record of 2,758 vehicles last month, but still lag behind Tesla, which had nearly 8,000 new registrations in the same period [3][4] - The company has increasingly shifted its focus to Europe due to challenges posed by US tariffs on the global auto industry [3] Workforce Changes - In January 2024, Polestar announced plans to cut 450 jobs globally, representing about 15% of its workforce [4]