Polestar(US:PSNY)2025-11-12 14:02Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Retail sales volume increased by 36% to over 44,000 cars in the first nine months of 2025, with Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 accounting for 65% of sales [9][10] - Revenue grew by 49% to approximately $2.2 billion in the first nine months of 2025, driven by higher sales volume and an increased share of higher-priced models [10][11] - Adjusted EBITDA loss improved by 8% to $561 million, reflecting fixed cost reductions and carbon credit income [13] - Net loss for the third quarter was $365 million, with a gross margin of -6%, a deterioration of 5 percentage points year-on-year [14][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Retail sales in the third quarter grew by 13% year-on-year, with revenue increasing by 36% to $748 million [14] - Carbon credit sales amounted to $104 million under the new EU pooling agreement, a significant increase from below $1 million in the same period in 2024 [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Europe remains the main market, representing over 75% of global deliveries, with notable growth in Belgium (40%), the Netherlands (37%), Germany (46%), Norway (63%), Sweden (41%), and the U.K. (100%) [6][9] - South Korea showed exceptional growth of 430%, while the U.S. market represented only 8% of retail sales, down from 16% in 2024 due to tariff and policy changes [10][11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on commercial transformation, increasing retail footprint, and improving operational efficiency [4] - A shift in platform strategy was announced, utilizing group technology platforms for future models to access the best EV technology [7] - The company plans to continue optimizing operations and reducing headcount, targeting approximately 2,000 employees by year-end [7][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged significant external headwinds, including tariff and pricing pressures impacting profitability [9] - The company aims to end the year strongly and expects to provide guidance in early 2026 [8] - Management is optimistic about the prospects for the Polestar 4 in North America, highlighting its competitive advantages [8] Other Important Information - The company raised $200 million in new equity and secured about $1 billion in new facilities, with a cash position of $995 million at the end of September [16] - A reverse stock split is planned to change the ratio of American depositary shares to ordinary shares [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you help us bridge the walk for gross margin? - Management noted that Q3 gross margin was disappointing due to pricing pressure and higher production costs, despite some cost reductions [19][20] Question: Can you comment on OpEx spending trends? - Management indicated a significant decrease in fixed costs, driven by optimized marketing expenses and headcount reduction, with plans to accelerate these efforts [23][24] Question: How will the bilateral trade agreement affect Polestar's business plan? - Management expressed optimism about local production in the U.S. and the introduction of Polestar 4 from South Korea, which has lower duties [28] Question: What is the new effective rate of interest on Polestar's debt portfolio? - Management confirmed that most of the debt is floating, with no significant change to the previous effective rate [31][32] Question: Can you provide an update on capital needs and liquidity? - Management reported a monthly cash burn of around $136 million, with expectations for an increase due to legacy CapEx, but noted improvements in normalized cash burn [36][38] Question: What are Polestar's plans regarding autonomy? - Management highlighted partnerships with Mobileye and emphasized the importance of balancing performance with autonomy in future models [41][42]