Gary Zhou 
Key Points
- 🚗 Honda and Acura are adopting Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector for their upcoming electric vehicles.
- 🛠 General Motors played a significant role in influencing Honda’s decision to adopt the NACS connector.
- 🌐 GM became the second automaker, after Ford, to adopt the NACS connector, aiming to accelerate mass EV adoption.
- ⚡️ Tesla’s Supercharger network’s reliability and maintenance excellence are key factors driving the adoption of NACS.
- 🌍 Tesla continues to expand its Supercharger network globally, adding 318 new Supercharger Stations last quarter.
- 🏎 Honda’s Prologue and Acura’s ZDX electric vehicles will share GM’s Ultium architecture, transitioning to NACS connector when GM switches.
- 🏢 American Honda Motor Company’s CEO emphasizes the importance of NACS in their transition to competitive EVs with ample charging stalls.
- 🛣 Honda recognizes the significance of NACS in building an ecosystem for electric vehicles’ success.
- 🛠 NACS adoption enables access to Tesla Superchargers, known for their effective and reliable charging.
- 🔌 Tesla currently has 5,265 Supercharger stations with 48,082 connectors globally, with 12,000 connectors reserved for NACS adopters.
Honda and Acura have reached a verdict on the adoption of the Tesla North American Charging Standard (NACS), a decision influenced significantly by General Motors (GM). GM played a pivotal role in influencing the choice to integrate the NACS connector into upcoming EV releases over the next few years.
In an interview with AutoBlog last week, Honda confirmed its intention to embrace Tesla’s NACS connector, emphasizing its crucial role in facilitating the transition toward building competitive electric vehicles. This strategic move is geared towards ensuring a robust network of charging stalls to bolster the range capabilities of these electric vehicles.
Noriya Kaihara, the President and CEO of American Honda Motor Company, expressed this stance, stating, “We also have to push NACS, as well. It is clear.” Honda’s upcoming electric models, including the Prologue under its brand and the ZDX under the Acura marque, will share GM’s Ultium architecture upon their eventual launch. While the ZDX, set to debut before the Prologue, will initially feature the Combined Charging System (CCS) inlet, the plan is to transition to the NACS connector once GM adopts it.
General Motors, in June, became the second automaker, after Ford, to adopt the NACS standard. Mary Barra, GM’s Chair and CEO, articulated their vision for an all-electric future, focusing on producing a diverse range of high-quality EVs across various categories and price points, while concurrently establishing an ecosystem to accelerate widespread EV adoption.
For Honda, the decision to embrace NACS and gain access to Tesla Superchargers was straightforward. Jay Joseph, American Honda’s VP of Sustainability and Business Development, highlighted the allure of Tesla’s Supercharger network, specifically its reliability and maintenance protocols. The effective oversight, onsite monitoring, remote maintenance, and swift repairs within the Tesla network have established its reputation as one of the most dependable and efficient charging networks in the EV industry.
Tesla’s Supercharger network, continually expanding each quarter, is recognized not only for its extensive footprint but also for its availability and reliability, distinguishing it among its peers. With the addition of 318 new Supercharger Stations in the previous quarter, Tesla’s global network now boasts 5,265 stations and 48,082 connectors. Notably, around 12,000 of these connectors will be accessible to automakers that have aligned with the NACS connector standard.
