Posted on June 29, 2023
German automotive giant Volkswagen has confirmed its ongoing discussions with Tesla about the possible adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector for its electric vehicles (EVs) in North America.
This development follows an announcement from Electrify America, a charging station operator initiated by Volkswagen, confirming its decision to incorporate NACS connectors at its stations. Electrify America was established as part of Volkswagen's settlement over the infamous 'Dieselgate' scandal.
In recent weeks, Tesla has successfully persuaded almost all major American car manufacturers to transition to its newly introduced connector standard, NACS. Among the first to commit were Ford, followed by General Motors and Rivian. Volvo and Polestar, both owned by China's Geely, have also announced their decision to switch to NACS this week.
However, car manufacturers based in Europe, particularly in Germany, and Asia have yet to follow suit.
Electrify America's recent announcement to implement NACS connectors at its stations has been viewed as a promising sign that the Volkswagen Group might become the first German automaker to adopt the standard in North America. This speculation has been further fueled by a statement from a Volkswagen spokesperson who confirmed that "Volkswagen Group and its brands are currently evaluating the implementation of the Tesla North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its North American customers."
The use of the term "brands" suggests that the adoption of NACS could extend across all Volkswagen Group brands, potentially including VW, Audi, and Porsche, simultaneously. This move is viewed as a significant step towards the harmonization of EV charging infrastructure, which is a crucial factor in the broad adoption of electric mobility.
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