Polestar confirms Hertz delivery pause, rental giant promises not to offload existing cars

Rental giant Hertz made headlines when it ordered 65,000 Polestars in an investment worth $4.5 billion, adding to its 2021 order of 100,000 Teslas.

Hertz’s big EV spend has been lauded by pundits and enthusiasts as a big step towards getting more people into electric vehicles, whether as a rental car ‘test drive’ experience or later in the used market.

However, despite the program proving popular with customers, a rash of costly repairs has moved Hertz’s American office to sell off around 20,000 of its 48,000-strong fleet of Model 3s and Model Ys at rock-bottom prices, all to be replaced with conventional combustion cars.

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Now, Polestar has agreed to pause orders for 2024 – on the condition that Hertz does not sell its existing Polestar cars this year, which could harm new-car sales and used-car values.

In a statement given to Wheels Media today through its Australian arm, a Polestar global spokesperson said: “In return, and in order to maintain our long-term agreement, through 2025, we have also agreed not to push deliveries to them during 2024.”

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As for Hertz’s troubling repair bills, Polestar’s comments suggest it may be more of a Tesla problem.

“With respect to recent Hertz comments about high expenses relating to collision and damage, primarily associated with EVs, we have asked Hertz for some further background to this and have so far received nothing to suggest that Polestar vehicles are contributing to these high expenses,” the spokesperson said.

Australia: Business as usual

Hertz’s Australian customers will continue to have access to EVs, and the company currently lists 22 locations across the country for the Polestar 2.

The Model 3 and Model Y are likewise still on the Hertz fleet in Australia, although it does not list any specific locations.