Stellantis has confirmed it will adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS), making it the last major automaker to adopt the Tesla-developed electric vehicle plug.
NACS connectors are used in Superchargers, Tesla’s proprietary EV charging network. Last year, the company opened the standard up to other car manufacturers, offering competitors’ customers access to the Supercharger network provided the brand signed an agreement. Ford and General Motors were the first two automakers to reach a deal with Tesla to incorporate the NACS into their upcoming vehicles, leading to a domino effect that saw virtually every brand—excluding Stellantis—following suit.
However, while Stellantis has now joined its fellow automakers in coopting the NACS, it has not announced any agreement with Tesla, putting the question of whether its EV or hybrid customers will be able to use the Supercharger network up in the air. The company, the result of the Fiat-Chrysler merger in 2021, has shown reticence to electrify its models, even as other brands have announced plans that would completely phase out gas-powered vehicles within the decade.
The NACS is also no longer controlled solely by Tesla. SAE International, the organization responsible for developing worldwide engineering standards, released its own version of the NACS titled SAE J3400. In its announcement, Stellantis referred to the standard by the latter denomination. The automaker is one of seven manufacturers planning to build their own charging network across the U.S. as part of the recently authorized Ionna joint venture.
Whether Stellantis will arrange a deal with the EV maker or not, Tesla is planning a heavy expansion of its Supercharger network. On Monday, February 12, a construction permit was obtained for a massive 164-stall charging station in Kern County, California. If approved, the station would be the largest of its kind in the world.
