GM Electric Vehicles Gain Access to Tesla Supercharging Network

GM Electric Vehicles Can Now Access Tesla Superchargers

General Motors (GM) has announced that electric vehicles (EVs) from its brands can finally use Tesla's Supercharging network. To gain immediate access, owners of electric Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC vehicles will need to purchase 'GM approved' Tesla adapters through each brand’s smartphone app for $225.

Future GM models will feature Tesla’s charging port natively installed, drastically increasing charging options for GM customers.

Background on the Integration

The announcement comes more than 15 months after GM first declared its intention to adopt Tesla’s EV charging plug for its vehicles. Although GM originally anticipated completing software updates by early spring 2024, progress was delayed due to production bottlenecks and layoffs at Tesla.

Significance of Tesla's Supercharging Network

GM expressed enthusiasm about the development, emphasizing that its customers will gain access to 17,800 Tesla Supercharger plugs for the first time. The lack of convenient and reliable charging has consistently been identified as a significant barrier to EV adoption.

Tesla’s Superchargers are recognized as one of the best EV charging networks globally, presenting a solid infrastructure for electric vehicle owners.

The Wider EV Market Shift

Following Ford’s example last year, nearly every major automaker has committed to adopting the North American Charging Standard (NACS), also known as SAE J3400. This transition includes a software upgrade to enable non-Tesla vehicles to interact with Tesla’s Superchargers.

GM states it will source NACS-approved adapters from various suppliers, ensuring a reliable supply chain outside of Tesla's production capabilities.

Looking ahead, automakers are planning to produce EVs equipped with built-in NACS ports, allowing seamless charging at Tesla stations without the need for adapters.