Investing.com -- Shares of Polestar (Nasdaq: NASDAQ:PSNY) tumbled 9% after the Swedish electric vehicle (EV) maker disclosed that its car sales fell short of expectations and that the path to profitability would be longer than initially anticipated. The company’s CEO indicated that significant changes were necessary to improve operational, commercial, and financial performance.
In its latest press release, Polestar outlined an updated business strategy, aiming for a compound annual retail sales volume growth of 30-35% from 2025 to 2027 and targeting positive adjusted EBITDA by 2025. Despite these ambitious goals, the immediate financials painted a less optimistic picture, with retail sales down 8% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year. Revenue also saw a decline of 10% YoY, standing at $551 million, influenced by lower volumes and competitive market conditions.
The company reported a net loss of -$323 million and an adjusted EBITDA of -$180 million, although this represented a 28% improvement in EBITDA compared to the third quarter of 2023. Polestar’s cash balance at the end of Q3 2024 was $501 million, and it managed to secure over $800 million in bank facilities in December.
Polestar’s updated guidance for the full year 2024 reflects the challenges it faces, with expectations of a mid-teens percentage decline in revenue and a negative gross margin similar to that of the full year 2023. The company attributed the downward revision to adverse market conditions, including fewer than expected sales of newer models like the Polestar 3 and 4, and ongoing market discounting pressures.
The company is also considering a change in the ratio of its American Depositary Shares to ordinary shares to better position itself for future fundraising and to reduce transaction costs.
While Polestar’s press release highlighted the launch of Polestar Energy, expansion plans in France, and the expectation of increased revenue from CO2 credit sales, the immediate financial reality has led to a negative response from the market, reflected in the stock’s decline.
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