In a remarkable turn of events, nearly every major automaker has agreed to adopt Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) and provide adapters to their customers, following Ford's pioneering deal with Tesla in May 2023. This shift marks a significant transformation in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, as manufacturers move away from the Combined Charging Standard (CCS) and towards Tesla's superior charging technology.

The move is a testament to Tesla's robust and user-friendly charging network, which has long been considered the gold standard in the industry. By embracing NACS, automakers are acknowledging the benefits of a unified charging standard, which will ultimately enhance the overall EV ownership experience. Rivian, GM, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi, Kia, Lucid, and Stellantis are among the manufacturers that have committed to integrating NACS ports into their future EVs.

While many non-Tesla customers are still waiting for their adapters, recent announcements from automakers suggest that progress is being made. GM, for instance, has finally updated its software to enable customers to use Tesla's Superchargers, and Hyundai has outlined plans to provide adapters to its customers starting in January 2025. Lucid, meanwhile, will begin offering access to the Supercharger network on January 31, 2025, and Mercedes-Benz will follow suit in February 2025.

The adoption of NACS has significant implications for the industry. With over 36,000 NACS ports available publicly in the U.S. today, compared to around 16,925 CCS ports, the shift towards a unified standard is expected to accelerate the growth of the EV market. Federal dollars that have been allocated to the buildout of CCS chargers may need to be reassessed in light of this development.

For EV owners stuck with a CCS port, manufacturer-approved adapters will be necessary to access the Supercharger network. While third-party adapters are available, they are prohibited by Tesla, and automakers like GM have emphasized the importance of using approved adapters to protect their EV batteries. Tesla's website has announced that it has ramped up production of adapters, which could mean that even more non-Tesla EVs will be able to access Supercharger stations soon.

As the industry continues to evolve, one thing is clear: Tesla's charging standard has become the de facto benchmark for the EV industry. With major automakers committing to NACS, the future of electric vehicle charging looks brighter than ever. TechCrunch will continue to track which brands have access to the Tesla Supercharging Network and provide updates as more information becomes available.