September 25, 2024 – Korean automaker Kia has announced that, starting from January 15th next year, its electric vehicles will gain access to over 16,500 Tesla Supercharger stations across the United States.
Customers purchasing the EV9 or EV6 after September 4th, 2024, will receive a complimentary NACS adapter from Kia. However, all existing owners will be required to pay an as-yet undetermined fee.
The free adapters are slated to begin shipping to customers in early 2025, while existing owners can purchase the adapter from authorized Kia dealers at a later date. Last week, General Motors also revealed that all its electric vehicle customers would need to pay $225 for a NACS adapter to use Tesla Superchargers.
In light of future Kia electric vehicle models being equipped with native Tesla charging ports, the automaker will also soon offer reverse adapters, allowing these models to still utilize CCS-based DC fast chargers and Level 2 AC chargers. Additionally, Kia will release a software update in early 2025, enabling customers to pay for and initiate charging through the vehicle’s infotainment system.
It’s worth noting that Kia, along with its sister company Hyundai, is among the last few automakers to announce the adoption of Tesla’s NACS (North American Charging Standard) connector. Currently, vehicles from Ford, Rivian, and General Motors are already capable of charging at Tesla Supercharger stations.
