Stellantis has finally made the move to join everyone else in the electric vehicle (EV) market by committing to adopting Tesla’s charging port standard, known as the North American Charging Standard (NACS), for its upcoming EVs starting from 2026. This decision marks a departure from its previous stance, as it had been the only major automaker yet to embrace NACS.
While many automakers have been hesitant to adopt NACS, Tesla’s influential Supercharger network potentially played a pivotal role in convincing them to do so. Tesla’s Supercharger network, renowned as the premier charging infrastructure in North America, incentivized other automakers to join the NACS standard by offering access to its network through adapters.
Despite Stellantis’ decision to integrate NACS into its EV lineup, the company notably did not mention any formal agreement with Tesla regarding access to the Supercharger network. Instead, Stellantis seems to be focusing on its own IONNA charging network, developed in collaboration with BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, and Mercedes-Benz.
The IONNA charging network, which is set to launch in North America, will support both NACS and CCS connectors, indicating Stellantis’ commitment to interoperability within the EV charging ecosystem. While Stellantis hasn’t ruled out access to Tesla’s Supercharger network, its emphasis on IONNA suggests a strategic shift towards building its charging infrastructure in partnership with other major automakers.
