Polestar VIN Decoder: YSM, LPS, YSR and 7SY Codes

A Polestar VIN often starts with YSM or LPS on Polestar 2 passenger cars, YSR on MPV filings for Polestar 3 and 4, or 7SY on U.S.-built Polestar 3 SUVs. Positions 4-8 carry the model and electric drive layout, 9 is the check digit, 10 is the model year, and 11 is the plant. A YSM WMI can still decode to Luqiao, China, so do not read the Sweden-looking prefix as a guarantee of a Swedish body plant. Decode it on vPIC, then run recalls and a history report.

We ran Polestar patterns through NHTSA's free vPIC decoder in mid October 2026 because used ads still flatten every Polestar 2 into "Swedish-built," and because Polestar spun out of Volvo while Geely-era China plants do a lot of the actual assembly. Note the family link briefly, then decode Polestar on its own codes; our Volvo VIN decoder covers YV1 and YV4 cars separately. New to the 17 positions? Read how to decode a VIN. For open campaigns, use our Polestar recall check by VIN.

Positions 1-3: YSM, LPS, YSR and 7SY

vPIC maps YSM to Polestar Performance AB passenger cars, LPS to Zhejiang Haoqing (China) passenger cars for Polestar, YSR to Polestar Performance AB multipurpose vehicles, and 7SY to Polestar Automotive USA for U.S.-built MPVs. Two clean 2024 Polestar 2 VINs we decoded, YSMFE3KA6RL239071 and YSMFD3KA0RL212998, both returned Luqiao, China under the AELQ plant company, battery-electric, with 78.0 kWh battery fields. One was RWD with engine model E400V20; the other was AWD with E400V26. A 2025 Polestar 3 pattern starting 7SYEA3YB decoded to Ridgeville, South Carolina, AWD, with about 111 kWh on the battery field. So plant country is a decode result, not a marketing slogan. A China-built Polestar 2 can still carry a YSM WMI that looks Swedish on a quick glance, which is exactly why you decode instead of guessing from the first letter.

Positions 4-8: Polestar 2, 3, 4 and drive layout

The middle block carries model family and electrification clues. On the Polestar 2 samples, vPIC filled body class as sedan, doors as 4, and drive type as RWD or AWD. On the Polestar 3 Ridgeville sample, body class came back as SUV/MPV. Honestly, Polestar 4 filings sit under the MPV WMI set as well, so do not assume every YSR or 7SY VIN is a Polestar 3 until the model field and window sticker agree. A blank model field means you verify the door jamb yourself.

Positions 9-11: check digit, year and plant

Position 9 is the check digit in 49 CFR 565.15. Both Polestar 2 samples above decoded with clean check digits. Position 10 is the model year (R was 2024, S was 2025 in our runs). Position 11 is the plant letter: L pointed at Luqiao on the Polestar 2 cars, and the Ridgeville Polestar 3 sample carried a South Carolina plant city. Match dash plate, door jamb and title before you argue about range packages.

Recalls that follow Polestar VINs

Always run the full VIN. Many Polestar 2 campaigns are software, and one camera saga stacked on earlier fixes. NHTSA recall 25V-615 is the rearview camera software campaign shoppers keep hearing about, and 24V-477 is another Polestar 2-era filing worth clearing by VIN. Look, a car that "already had the camera recall done" in 2024 can still owe the newer software. Confirm completed status, not vibes. Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 have shorter U.S. recall histories so far, which is not the same thing as a blank safety record forever; still run the VIN.

We've seen OTA promises with no version number on the screen. Ask for both.

After the decode: history, and what it costs

For model context, Car and Driver's Polestar 2 page and Consumer Reports on Polestar help. A VIN decode will not show salvage, flood or odometer fraud. Those come from the feeds CARFAX describes. Pull your own copy. As of mid October 2026, a CARFAX report through us is about $5.50 as a guest or about $4.50 as a member, and a CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle is about $6.75, against roughly $39.99 to $44.99 at retail. Confirm at checkout. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian.

Sources

• NHTSA vPIC VIN Decoder
• 49 CFR 565.15 VIN requirements
• NHTSA: recall 25V-615 (Polestar camera software)
• NHTSA: recall 24V-477 (Polestar)
• Car and Driver: Polestar 2
• Consumer Reports: Polestar
• CARFAX: Vehicle History Reports