As the old saying goes, unity is strength, and the Volkswagen Group has understood this for quite some time. It's precisely for this reason that the German trio has decided to adopt the universal NACS (North American Charging Standard) connector developed by Tesla.
This new charging port will be available on new models from the three brands starting in 2025. However, if you already own an electrified Volkswagen, Audi, or Porsche model, rest assured that the manufacturers should provide you with an adapter allowing you to connect to NACS standard charging stations.
Towards a more extensive network
Standardizing charging ports should have a positive impact on the electric vehicle industry. Firstly, it will enable the provision of a larger network of fast-charging stations. The lack of infrastructure is one of the major issues currently. By using the same type of connector, manufacturers can collectively develop a better network of stations, which is precisely what Volkswagen intends to do. The group has deployed over 3,800 stations throughout North America so far.
With Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche joining in, more than twenty manufacturers have now announced their intention to use the NASC-type connector for their new models in the coming years. Here is the list of manufacturers that have decided to collaborate with Tesla up to now: Acura, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Kia, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Nissan, Polestar, Rivian Rolls-Royce, Subaru, Toyota, and Volvo.
Thanks to this agreement, owners of the aforementioned brands will soon have access to a network of over 15,000 Tesla Superchargers, in addition to other stations that will be installed in the coming years.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier