v3.26.1
Intangible assets and goodwill
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Intangible Assets [Abstract]  
Intangible assets and goodwill
Note 15 - Intangible assets and goodwill
The changes in Polestar Group's intangible assets, goodwill and trademarks are as follows:
Internally developed IPSoftwareAcquired IPGoodwillTrademarksTotal
Acquisition cost
Balance as of January 1, 2024310,450 11,380 1,836,487 48,061 2,387 2,208,765 
Additions1
178,487 2,592 116,301 — — 297,380 
Derecognition due to program changes— (984)— — — (984)
Effect of foreign currency exchange differences(33,908)(1,323)(141,668)(4,268)(212)(181,379)
Balance as of December 31, 2024455,029 11,665 1,811,120 43,793 2,175 2,323,782 
Additions1
131,876 3,136 215,721 — — 350,733 
Derecognition
(2,288)— (20,792)— — (23,080)
Effect of foreign currency exchange differences98,028 2,376 305,533 8,593 427 414,957 
Balance as of December 31, 2025682,645 17,177 2,311,582 52,386 2,602 3,066,392 
Accumulated amortization and impairment
Balance as of January 1, 2024(18,789)(1,548)(769,721)— — (790,058)
Amortization expense — (2,055)(6,310)— — (8,365)
Amortization expense capitalized into inventory(1,581)— (49,592)— — (51,173)
Impairment loss2
(313,868)(1,029)(161,963)— — (476,860)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate differences1,750 252 41,521 — — 43,523 
Balance as of December 31, 2024(332,488)(4,380)(946,065)— — (1,282,933)
Amortization expense— (2,185)(6,709)— — (8,894)
Amortization capitalized into inventory(3,599)— (78,434)— — (82,033)
Impairment loss2
(136,408)(117)(668,449)— — (804,974)
Effect of foreign currency exchange differences(64,395)(816)(122,021)— — (187,232)
Balance as of December 31, 2025(536,890)(7,498)(1,821,678)— — (2,366,066)
Carrying amount as of December 31, 2024122,541 7,285 865,055 43,793 2,175 1,040,849 
Carrying amount as of December 31, 2025145,755 9,679 489,904 52,386 2,602 700,326 
1 - Of $350,733 in additions for the full year ended December 31, 2025, $224,876 has been settled in cash. These $224,876 are included in the $296,079 cash used for investing activities related to additions to intangible assets, and the remaining $71,203 relates to decreases in trade payables with related parties from prior years which were settled in cash during the full year ended December 31, 2025.
Of $297,380 in additions for the full year ended December 31, 2024, $157,373 has been settled in cash. These $157,373 are included in the $209,101 cash used for investing activities related to additions to intangible assets, and the remaining $51,728 relates to decreases in trade payables with related parties from prior years which were settled in cash during the full year ended December 31, 2024.
2 - For the year ended December 31, 2025, the impairment loss of $804,974 is part of the total CGU impairment in 2025. For further information, refer to Note 2 - Material accounting policies and use of significant judgements and estimates.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, Polestar 3 CGU and IDP CGUs were assessed for impairment, and impairment losses amounting to $476,860 were recognized related to Intellectual property, where 100% of the amount was recognized within cost of sales.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, additions to internally developed IP are primarily related to Polestar 5 and various other internal programs, such as model year changes. Additions of acquired IP during the year ended December 31, 2025 were primarily related to acquisitions of Polestar 3 IP from Volvo Cars and Polestar 4 IP from Geely. Polestar also acquired IP related to model year changes of the Polestar 2 from Volvo Cars. Refer to Note 28 - Related party transactions for further details.