Kia has officially joined the ranks of automakers with access to Tesla's vast Supercharger network, allowing owners of the company's electric vehicles (EVs) to charge at over 21,500 stations across North America. The move marks a significant expansion of the charging network for Kia EV owners, who can now take advantage of Tesla's extensive infrastructure.

The news comes after a brief delay, with Kia initially announcing that its EVs would gain Supercharger access in January. However, the rollout was pushed back to March before finally going live. Kia's sister company, Hyundai, was granted Supercharger access in December, with owners of the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 receiving free adapters to facilitate charging.

Owners of current Kia EV6, EV9, and Niro EV models can utilize a CCS1-to-NACS adapter, available for purchase from Kia dealers, to access Tesla's Superchargers. Meanwhile, the refreshed 2025 Kia EV6 model will come standard with a Tesla-style NACS port, eliminating the need for an adapter. The upcoming 2026 EV9 three-row SUV will also feature the NACS port.

Kia owners can navigate to Tesla Superchargers and check the locations' statuses on their vehicle infotainment screens. Additionally, they can use the Kia Access app to start a charging session or enroll in Kia's Charge Pass program. This integration is expected to provide Kia EV owners with greater convenience and flexibility when it comes to charging their vehicles.

It's worth noting that some enterprising Kia EV6 and EV9 owners had previously found a workaround to access Tesla Superchargers by telling the Tesla app that they were driving a Hyundai Ioniq 5, which shares the same EV platform as Kia. However, with this official integration, Kia owners can now access the Supercharger network without resorting to such measures.

This development is part of a broader trend, with multiple automakers partnering with Tesla to expand their charging networks. Ford, GM, Rivian, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Polestar have all gained access to Tesla's Superchargers, with Honda set to join the list this summer. As the electric vehicle market continues to grow, collaborations like these are likely to play an increasingly important role in addressing range anxiety and promoting widespread adoption.

The expansion of charging infrastructure is critical to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, and partnerships like this one between Kia and Tesla are a step in the right direction. As the EV market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these collaborations shape the future of electric transportation.