Source – AboutLawsuits.com
In a move signaling a significant shift in the automotive landscape, Volkswagen Group, a global giant in the industry with brands including Audi, Porsche, and Scout Motors, has finally announced its intention to adopt Tesla’s electric vehicle (EV) charging standard. The decision comes as Tesla, in November 2022, unveiled its North American Charging Standard (NACS) and invited other automakers to integrate with its Supercharger network. Despite being a latecomer to the trend, VW is now in the early stages of exploring adapter solutions to allow its existing EV owners access to Tesla’s Supercharger network, with plans to roll out a solution by 2025.
Late Entry to the Charging Standard Parade
Volkswagen’s entry into the NACS ecosystem follows in the footsteps of other major automakers like Ford and General Motors, who embraced Tesla’s charging standard much earlier. The timing of VW’s decision raises eyebrows, especially considering that Tesla’s Superchargers, once exclusive to Tesla owners, opened up to non-Tesla EVs in response to regulatory requirements.
By committing to the NACS, Volkswagen aims to equip its upcoming EV models with Tesla’s charging ports directly from the assembly line by 2025. This move is expected to provide VW customers with access to approximately 15,000 Supercharger locations across North America.
Tesla’s Superior Charging Network and the Road Ahead
Tesla’s Supercharger network has long been lauded for its reliability and efficiency compared to third-party EV charging stations. With 45,000 Superchargers globally, including 12,000 in the United States, Tesla has set a high standard for EV charging infrastructure. The company’s commitment to excellence is evident in its claim of a 99.95 percent average uptime for Supercharger sites in the past year.
As VW joins the Tesla charging standard, attention now turns to the last major holdout in the industry: Stellantis, the parent company of brands such as Jeep, Chrysler, Ram, and Fiat. Tesla’s successful integration with Stellantis could further solidify the NACS as a prevailing standard in the rapidly evolving world of electric mobility.
