[Supernyamo]

The thing that will probably concern me the most is in worst case scenario where I can't drive the car to the space to get fixed. The closest space to me is Detroit and its over 250 miles away from Chicago. This would mean I would have to pay to have the car towed to that space for repairs. Last I check its between 800-1k just to tow the car to the Detroit space. If not Illinois, I hope they can open a Space in either Wisconsin or Indiana.

I called several times to the Polestar Detroit and if the car becomes inoperable for service, they will tow outside the 150 mile range, this was backed up in writing from the Polestar support on my end. I would ask them about it.

I have aso been told by Volvo in Northfield that they will be servicing Polestars as well as Detroit mentioning several times that there are still plans within "the next 6 months" to have service closer to Chicagoland.

Now, I don't know if this is factual 100% but i've been told now by 3 different people that Chicago will be getting a closer Polestar and that if we really need it, they will tow outside the 150 range as there is not currently any Polestars in Chicago.

 

[gohandbz8]

I called several times to the Polestar Detroit and if the car becomes inoperable for service, they will tow outside the 150 mile range, this was backed up in writing from the Polestar support on my end. I would ask them about it.

I have aso been told by Volvo in Northfield that they will be servicing Polestars as well as Detroit mentioning several times that there are still plans within "the next 6 months" to have service closer to Chicagoland.

Now, I don't know if this is factual 100% but i've been told now by 3 different people that Chicago will be getting a closer Polestar and that if we really need it, they will tow outside the 150 range as there is not currently any Polestars in Chicago.

This sounds promising to have a dealer in the Chicagoland area to service the Polestars. I can imagine there will be more and more P2 showing up here and people will need a place to get their car serviced and not have to drive 5 hrs.

 

[Harley]

The thing that will probably concern me the most is in worst case scenario where I can't drive the car to the space to get fixed. The closest space to me is Detroit and its over 250 miles away from Chicago. This would mean I would have to pay to have the car towed to that space for repairs. Last I check its between 800-1k just to tow the car to the Detroit space. If not Illinois, I hope they can open a Space in either Wisconsin or Indiana.

If and/or when that time comes, if no closer options to you exists, I would contact Polestar (corporate or Detroit) to see what arrangements can be made? At the very least, they should honor their 150 mile range commitment, by reimbursing you for up to 150 miles of towing expenses? And a good dealership will understand the pickle you are in, and pick up the entire tab? Also, maybe the difference can be made up by AAA or some other towing insurance policy you may have?

It’s unfortunate that people in Illinois (and maybe other states) are caught in the middle of this legal pissing match.

 

[TKhus]

Very helpful and interesting thread here, adding to and confirming what I've been told as well.

I live in southeast Iowa, near Iowa City and will be getting mine from Minneapolis, which is 328 miles away. I was told the same directly by Kevin, that in the event of a catastrophic failure, since I'm way outside the 150mi towing radius, they will send someone to my garage. And in the event of the car being undrivable, they will set me up with a rental from Enterprise as long as needed. They will also credit/cover 150 miles of the tow, in case it has to be brought to them in MN. I am not super thrilled about potentially having to cover the other 178 miles of towing if that should happen, but I appreciate the in-home repair effort and rental car provision. I was satisfied enough that I placed my order.

I can also confirm that Minneapolis did send someone to my friend's home nearby when he had a TCAM failure just a couple months ago. A tech came to his home and corrected the issue in his garage (near Cedar Rapids, about 40 mi from me) and he hasn't had trouble with it since. I can add to the praise for Minneapolis Space; Kevin and Max have been great to talk to, knowledgeable, eager to help, and enthusiastic about the car and what they do.

If there's an issue that I would want corrected but wouldn't be deemed critical enough for them to send someone out, I'd have to decide what's worth the drive to Minneapolis. I like driving and definitely will enjoy daytripping with the PS when I get mine, but Minneapolis and back with probably two brief charge stops each way is kind of a trip. And if...whatever...can't be fixed that day, I'm looking at a hotel stay. Again, no super big deal ultimately, but suddenly it's a weekender.

Ultimately I decided this risk of potential issues and inconvenient logistics is part of the cost of being an "early adopter" of this car. Sure there's a legacy manufacturer backbone, but not in reality until I can have it serviced at Cedar Rapids Volvo, which is unlikely to ever be the case. I placed the order knowing full well it's a lot like buying a Tesla before there was a service center in Des Moines 120 mi away, when the only one was in Counciltucky--er, Council Bluffs--on the exact opposite end of Iowa, 245 mi from home.

 

[centran]

The rumor is with Illinois Volvo dealerships is that they will never sell or service Polestars until Polestar allows them to sell under the "regular dealership" agreements. Polestar wants to sell under the standard pricing method in which you customize your car and the price is set and the same everywhere.. Dealerships hate that because they can't play with the numbers or mark up new vehicles over MSRP.
"Spaces" are tied to dealerships because you can't commercially sell vehicles if you are not a dealership. That's why you have to go to the actual dealer to complete the purchase and delivery of a Polestar.

So Polestar either has to allow dealership to set their own prices or not sell in those states. Given the huge automotive mark ups seen during the pandemic... don't expect Polestars to be sold or serviced in Chicago/Illinois anytime in the near future. The dealerships will not let it happen. The only way is if Polestar caves in and lets dealership set their own prices.

 

[Harley]

The rumor is with Illinois Volvo dealerships is that they will never sell or service Polestars until Polestar allows them to sell under the "regular dealership" agreements. Polestar wants to sell under the standard pricing method in which you customize your car and the price is set and the same everywhere.. Dealerships hate that because they can't play with the numbers or mark up new vehicles over MSRP.
"Spaces" are tied to dealerships because you can't commercially sell vehicles if you are not a dealership. That's why you have to go to the actual dealer to complete the purchase and delivery of a Polestar.

So Polestar either has to allow dealership to set their own prices or not sell in those states. Given the huge automotive mark ups seen during the pandemic... don't expect Polestars to be sold or serviced in Chicago/Illinois anytime in the near future. The dealerships will not let it happen. The only way is if Polestar caves in and lets dealership set their own prices.

That being the case, why can’t Polestar simply have a completely independent space in a few markets that operate in such a hostile way? Is there anything that legally would prohibit opening a Polestar space, with no space shared with Volvo, in Chicago, much like what tesla does? Why should these 8 (I believe it was a small number) of Volvo dealerships in Illinois be able to set the terms under which Polestar cars are sold. Is Polestar in Sweden/Greeley hostile in doing this? With the clear understanding that an independent shop would only happen in situations like this?

 

[Supernyamo]

Ultimately I decided this risk of potential issues and inconvenient logistics is part of the cost of being an "early adopter" of this car. Sure there's a legacy manufacturer backbone, but not in reality until I can have it serviced at Cedar Rapids Volvo, which is unlikely to ever be the case. I placed the order knowing full well it's a lot like buying a Tesla before there was a service center in Des Moines 120 mi away, when the only one was in Counciltucky--er, Council Bluffs--on the exact opposite end of Iowa, 245 mi from home.

This is exactly how I am operating now too, I like the car and I am willing to take these risks as an early adopter as well. I typically don't need a car for any commuting or even getting groceries and such, only on the weekend and even then I am close to trains so it's no a do-or-die situation if I am out. My current car, a Subaru, was in the shop for a month and I got along fine.

So I digress, I hope there will be one close to Chicagoland in the future, but I understand the risks and inconveniences i'll probably endure with service and the like. And I accept it to get behind Polestar and what I find s a unique and interesting car.

 

[Harley]

This is exactly how I am operating now too, I like the car and I am willing to take these risks as an early adopter as well. I typically don't need a car for any commuting or even getting groceries and such, only on the weekend and even then I am close to trains so it's no a do-or-die situation if I am out. My current car, a Subaru, was in the shop for a month and I got along fine.

So I digress, I hope there will be one close to Chicagoland in the future, but I understand the risks and inconveniences i'll probably endure with service and the like. And I accept it to get behind Polestar and what I find s a unique and interesting car.

I have zero doubt that eventually, Polestar will have spaces (more than one) in the greater Chicagoland. The area is too big a market, with a fairly affluent and educated consumer, not to have a presence in Chicago.

 

[gohandbz8]

I have zero doubt that eventually, Polestar will have spaces (more than one) in the greater Chicagoland. The area is too big a market, with a fairly affluent and educated consumer, not to have a presence in Chicago.

Totally agree. There will eventually be a Polestar space/dealership in the Chicagoland area. At the end of the day for a dealer, would you rather not make any money because you cant sell the polestar, or make money from being able to sell polestar at fixed price and service them.

 

[TKhus]

I also have no doubt that Polestar will be in Chicago sooner or later. It's already a glaring hole in the map, given the market size for this kind of product. Your linked article shed a lot of light on this mess. I thought the quote from Polestar was kinda funny though: "Polestar Automotive USA is a separate franchise which is not in the Illinois market, and Polestar has no current plans to enter the Illinois market," a Polestar spokesman said in a statement. "For this and other reasons, Polestar believes that the protest is without merit and should be dismissed." Right. No plans to enter the IL market until there is a legal avenue, then there will be plans posthaste to access that Chicagoland revenue.

I did a little research into how Tesla exists there and found some interesting things, including a new lawsuit being brought by the Illinois Auto Dealers Association. Basically, the IADA and Tesla were in similar legal fisticuffs until the State in 2009 granted Tesla some half-salad called an administrative constraint order that allows Tesla to sell in IL, but caps their number of stores at 13. Checking the Tesla website, there's currently 10 in IL.

Now currently the IADA is suing the IL Sec of State over this concession, plus aims to keep Rivian (and Lucid) out as well.

Illinois' car dealers lawsuit: State of IL illegally letting Tesla, Rivian sell electric cars direct to consumers

This seems to indicate that the Polestar/Volvo and the Tesla situations aren't quite as parallel as it would first appear, and the IADA is fighting this dealership threat on two fronts. The Volvo dealers want a slice of the Polestar pie, whereas the Tesla/Rivian/Lucid fight is purely protectionism of their business model. It's so amusingly weird. "Polestar, we are meant to be together forever! You complete us!" "Chicagoland Volvo, stop trying to make a shared sales model happen. It's not going to happen."

Meanwhile, my own state won't let Tesla show off their cars within the borders. Tesla was going to hold a test drive event at a Des Moines hotel, but the dealership association got wind of it and called the cops. Literally, a friend in town said the state patrol showed up. This was several years ago when Tesla was just starting to really rock the boat:

Iowa curbs Tesla test drives

From what I've heard, the Iowa dealership lobby is second strongest in the nation, behind only Michigan. So dear European friends, see what kind of bullsh*t we have to deal with over here?

 

[Supernyamo]

I also have no doubt that Polestar will be in Chicago sooner or later. It's already a glaring hole in the map, given the market size for this kind of product....

Thank you for this post it was highly informative. I figure we'll get support over here one way or the other in due time. For now, though, I'll be continuing to read up on all the issues coming up.

It will be an interesting drive back home from the Detroit space that's for sure

 

[Harley]

I also have no doubt that Polestar will be in Chicago sooner or later. It's already a glaring hole in the map, given the market size for this kind of product. Your linked article shed a lot of light on this mess. I thought the quote from Polestar was kinda funny though: "Polestar Automotive USA is a separate franchise which is not in the Illinois market, and Polestar has no current plans to enter the Illinois market," a Polestar spokesman said in a statement. "For this and other reasons, Polestar believes that the protest is without merit and should be dismissed." Right. No plans to enter the IL market until there is a legal avenue, then there will be plans posthaste to access that Chicagoland revenue.

I did a little research into how Tesla exists there and found some interesting things, including a new lawsuit being brought by the Illinois Auto Dealers Association. Basically, the IADA and Tesla were in similar legal fisticuffs until the State in 2009 granted Tesla some half-salad called an administrative constraint order that allows Tesla to sell in IL, but caps their number of stores at 13. Checking the Tesla website, there's currently 10 in IL.

Now currently the IADA is suing the IL Sec of State over this concession, plus aims to keep Rivian (and Lucid) out as well.

Illinois' car dealers lawsuit: State of IL illegally letting Tesla, Rivian sell electric cars direct to consumers

This seems to indicate that the Polestar/Volvo and the Tesla situations aren't quite as parallel as it would first appear, and the IADA is fighting this dealership threat on two fronts. The Volvo dealers want a slice of the Polestar pie, whereas the Tesla/Rivian/Lucid fight is purely protectionism of their business model. It's so amusingly weird. "Polestar, we are meant to be together forever! You complete us!" "Chicagoland Volvo, stop trying to make a shared sales model happen. It's not going to happen."

Meanwhile, my own state won't let Tesla show off their cars within the borders. Tesla was going to hold a test drive event at a Des Moines hotel, but the dealership association got wind of it and called the cops. Literally, a friend in town said the state patrol showed up. This was several years ago when Tesla was just starting to really rock the boat:

Iowa curbs Tesla test drives

From what I've heard, the Iowa dealership lobby is second strongest in the nation, behind only Michigan. So dear European friends, see what kind of bullsh*t we have to deal with over here?

Great work for digging this up.

Clearly, some dealerships feel threatened, and wants in on some action. Ultimately, I think the Courts need to come down on the side of what’s best for the consumer….and dismiss these law suites, posthaste.

 

[Sinister_Crayon]

I'll echo here that I was also told by the guys at my Space (Detroit) that if the car were inoperable they would fly someone to me... and if they still couldn't get it working then it'd be towed, 150 mile limit be damned. That was good enough for me. To be honest it's fine for my lifestyle anyway where I don't commute therefore don't really need a "daily driver" per se... but when I need a car I need a car, and usually it's with little warning. That might also change in the future but we'll see what that brings...

As for the Illinois issue; it's a complicated issue. Illinois dealers still don't like the "direct sales" or even "direct pricing" models, and though I have no evidence for it I'd bet those Volvo dealers were pushing Polestar to sell through their dealerships and allow the dealers to set prices. I suspect these exact conversations are going on all over the country, and places with a strong and stubborn dealership association (like Illinois) are places where Polestar has just decided to push those off to deal with later when they have more leverage due to having more units on the street and spaces elsewhere.

All this is to say this is one reason I suspect we might see a Space in Missouri before Illinois. While the dealership associations in this state aren't exactly pushovers they have a history of allowing more changes in sales models than Illinois. It's one reason we had a Tesla dealership in St. Louis WAY before one appeared in Illinois. I also think that it would make a lot of sense for Polestar given their current locations because we're almost equidistant between two current spaces and just a smidge further from a third. Either here or KC would nicely fill out the gap in the current map... but again I think a lot of that comes down to the negotiating power that Polestar has and frankly when it comes to that they're just going to knock out the "low hanging fruit" first in order to get more cars on the road before dealing with the dealerships who are less willing to negotiate.

 

[Harley]

While anything can happen, and there are extenuating circumstances that may not allow…but I think it’s incomprehensible that Polestar would NOT do right by a customer, that owns one of their cars and is outside the 150 mile limit…a limit that, for whatever reason, exists because Polestar has not yet established a closer space. That would simply NOT be good PR for a new company that’s trying to establish a reputation and brand loyalty.

If you inquire, and are persistent, I’m positive that some suitable arrangement can be found.

 

[Supernyamo]

Here is a screenshot from a Polestar chat I had, this information was confirmed by the Detroit Polestar space Manager so we'll see if they keep this statement to be true or the limits of what they mean!

 

[TKhus]

Here is a screenshot from a Polestar chat I had, this information was confirmed by the Detroit Polestar space Manager so we'll see if they keep this statement to be true or the limits of what they mean!

Funny, when I was posting above something in my head was nagging that I had been told the same by MN, that a bricked car would incur no cost at all including the tow, because I thought I remember thinking my only hassle would be the short drive to Iowa City to Enterprise. But I thought maybe I was remembering wrong and didn't want to post something I wasn't 100% about. Well, here's hoping we never have to test this!

As for the Illinois issue; it's a complicated issue. Illinois dealers still don't like the "direct sales" or even "direct pricing" models, and though I have no evidence for it I'd bet those Volvo dealers were pushing Polestar to sell through their dealerships and allow the dealers to set prices. I suspect these exact conversations are going on all over the country, and places with a strong and stubborn dealership association (like Illinois) are places where Polestar has just decided to push those off to deal with later when they have more leverage due to having more units on the street and spaces elsewhere.

I agree here and think Polestar has no reason to rush to a resolution with these dealerships or any entity like IADA and give a concession that could cost them a lot of revenue--or operations autonomy--in the long term or permanently.

The Ford situation will be interesting to watch play out. CEO Farley is splitting the company into two divisions, the ICE vehicles called Ford Blue and the EV called Ford Model e:

Ford will split EVs and legacy autos into separate units as it spends $50 billion on electric vehicles

I don't think this article mentions it, but I've read elsewhere that the EV division will be non-dealership, order online just like Tesla and Polestar. Totally predictably, Ford dealers are freaking out and there's a Richter-scale hissy fit brewing. I wonder if some dealers will try to reject servicing EVs that they didn't get a cut from selling off their lot. This is different than Polestar since Ford isn't spinning Model e off as its own entity, but I'm still getting popcorn ready.

 

[Mick]

I hope they make a space either in St. Louis or Nashville. Would be closer for me (especially Nashville). Better yet, do both! I doubt there will ever be a Space in Memphis - I think I still have the only one in West Tennessee, although I have seen a Thunder here twice. It's still the only other Polestar I've seen in person ever.

 

[Sinister_Crayon]

I hope they make a space either in St. Louis or Nashville. Would be closer for me (especially Nashville). Better yet, do both! I doubt there will ever be a Space in Memphis - I think I still have the only one in West Tennessee, although I have seen a Thunder here twice. It's still the only other Polestar I've seen in person ever.

It's funny... for being 600 miles away from the nearest space I see a surprising number of Polestar 2's around St. Louis. There's at least 2 Voids, another Midnight (with 19" wheels) that I suspect is a member here and I see weekly... and at least two Snows. And these are just the ones I've seen (mostly clustered around Clayton with one exception for those who know St. Louis). I've also seen a Thunder on the Illinois side a couple of times. I mean; I know they got them from Volvo St. Louis on Manchester because I saw a couple of them on the lot while driving down that way. They also sold pretty quickly as they were on the lot a pretty short amount of time. Not sure what these people were told about service.

 

[Supernyamo]

funny... for being 600 miles away from the nearest Volvo St. Louis on Manchester because I saw a couple of them on the lot while driving down that way. They also sold pretty quickly as they were on the lot a pretty short amount of time. Not sure what these people were told about service.

You know what, this is how I was able to test drive a Polestar 2, I had to find one used at a Hyundai dealership near my and pretend like I was definitely going to buy it. I felt it was extremely shady, how does Polestar even handle this situation and what the heck do people do when they need service? A lot of uninformed people would just go back to the dealership

 

[Sinister_Crayon]

You know what, this is how I was able to test drive a Polestar 2, I had to find one used at a Hyundai dealership near my and pretend like I was definitely going to buy it. I felt it was extremely shady, how does Polestar even handle this situation and what the heck do people do when they need service? A lot of uninformed people would just go back to the dealership

Dealers being shady? Wow... who could've predicted that?!?

Seriously; these are used cars. I don't know the details of WHY they were used cars with minimal miles but beyond first sale Polestar has zero control over how these cars are sold. Yes, that also means the 7500 tax credit is "punched". I know that the dealership in question was selling used 2021's at a higher price than an identical new 2022 would've cost me... and yes they were still on the lot at the time I got mine. I got mine even cheaper because I dropped the Performance Pack... but then I also got to use the tax credit. I can only assume that someone with a connection was able to buy these cars at cost, claim the tax credit and then sell them on consignment through the local dealer... that's literally the only way I could see it working out. They might break-even on the sale itself but still get that tax credit "for free"... I've seen business people do shadier shit for less.