Volkswagen Group, encompassing iconic brands like Audi and Porsche, has officially declared its shift to Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) for electric vehicle charging. This marks a significant departure from the exclusivity of Tesla’s Supercharger network, heralding an era of collaboration among major automakers.
Volkswagen is actively working on an adapter solution to grant its existing electric vehicle owners access to Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network. The company aims to implement this solution by 2025. Concurrently, all new VW electric vehicles slated for release in the same year will come equipped with Tesla’s charging port as a standard feature.
This strategic move by Volkswagen ensures its customers access to approximately 15,000 Supercharger charging points across North America, a move likely to enhance the overall electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Tesla’s NACS standard, previously known as Supercharger technology, has gained momentum with Ford being the pioneer to adopt it, followed by General Motors and other major players in the automotive industry.
Tesla’s Supercharger network, boasting 45,000 charging stations worldwide, with 12,000 in the U.S. alone, has been widely regarded as a gold standard in electric vehicle charging. Volkswagen’s decision to join the NACS standard aligns with the broader industry trend of embracing standardized charging protocols, a shift catalyzed by the Biden administration’s electric vehicle infrastructure initiatives.
Previously, Tesla maintained exclusivity over its Supercharger network, but a paradigm shift occurred when the company started allowing electric cars from other manufacturers, first in Europe and later in the U.S. This transformation was propelled by the prerequisite set by the Biden administration for accessing a portion of the $7.5 billion allocated for electric vehicle charging in the infrastructure bill.
Volkswagen’s decision to join the NACS standard underscores the industry’s collective commitment to fostering interoperability and ease of access for electric vehicle owners. As one of the world’s largest automakers, Volkswagen Group’s move sets a precedent for collaboration in an increasingly electrified automotive landscape. With major players like Volkswagen on board, attention now turns to Stellantis, the next big contender on Tesla’s collaboration radar.