General Motors CEO Mary Barra has announced that the automaker will adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its future electric vehicles. This strategic move will grant GM electric vehicle owners access to Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network, reportedly comprising 12,000 charging stations across North America.
Expanded Charging Access for GM EV Owners
The transition will begin in the spring of 2024, with existing GM EV customers gaining access to Tesla Superchargers via an adapter. “What’s even more exciting is that our existing EV customers can leverage the 12,000 Tesla fast chargers early next spring with an adapter,” Barra stated.
Integration of Tesla Charging into GM’s Ecosystem
Looking ahead, new GM EVs will feature native integration of the NACS port. Furthermore, GM plans to incorporate Tesla Supercharger network access directly into its vehicle and mobile applications. “We plan to adopt the North American charging standard, we’re working really hard that our first vehicle will come in 2025,” Barra added. The automaker confirmed that GM will “also integrate the Tesla Supercharger Network into its vehicle and mobile apps, helping drivers quickly and easily locate, pay, and initiate charging at available Tesla Superchargers.”
This integration is expected to significantly simplify the charging experience for GM owners by streamlining the process of finding and paying for charging sessions without relying on third-party solutions.
A Growing Trend in the EV Industry
Barra made the announcement during a Twitter Spaces event with Tesla founder Elon Musk, a format similar to how Ford previously announced its shift to the NACS standard in late May. With both General Motors and Ford adopting Tesla’s charging technology, an estimated 300,000 American EV drivers are set to benefit from enhanced fast-charging capabilities. This figure includes over 170,000 BEVs sold by GM and over 108,000 BEVs from Ford.
Barra and Musk characterized the current period as highly significant for the automotive sector, with Musk drawing parallels to the introduction of the moving assembly line. The adoption of NACS by major automakers like Ford and GM, alongside smaller players such as Aptera, positions Tesla’s standard as a dominant force in the North American EV charging landscape. This development raises questions about the future of other charging standards like CCS1.