Tesla’s NACS support webpage now lists Mercedes-Benz among other automakers in its “coming soon” section, although the timeline for Supercharger support has been delayed for some manufacturers due to a chaotic reorganisation of Tesla’s charging team under CEO Elon Musk. The entire industry is now largely on board with the North American Charging Standard (NACS), originally developed by Tesla and certified by SAE as “J3400.” This standard uses the same connector that Tesla vehicles have been using for years, simplifying EV charging and providing significant technical benefits.
Over the next year, nearly every manufacturer is transitioning their vehicles to use the NACS standard. While most will continue to use the old CCS standard as receptacles on their vehicles, they plan to offer adapters throughout the year. As these adapters become available, Tesla will open its Supercharger network to vehicles from each manufacturer, allowing them to use what is considered the gold standard EV charging network in North America.
Currently, Ford and Rivian are shipping adapters to their customers, enabling their vehicles to use Tesla’s Supercharger network. Other EVs can also charge on Superchargers with Tesla’s “Magic Dock” adapter, though these are limited and future deployment will likely focus on NACS.
Tesla’s NACS webpage lists four other manufacturers as “coming soon”: General Motors, Volvo, Polestar, and now, Mercedes-Benz. Previously, this section indicated “coming Spring 2024,” with expectations for GM, Volvo, and Polestar to access Superchargers during this period. However, with spring having ended and the deadline passed, Tesla now simply states “coming soon” for all these manufacturers.
The delay appears to be linked to Musk’s abrupt firing of the entire Supercharger team, formerly led by Rebecca Tinucci, who was key in negotiating the industry’s shift to NACS. This sudden change disrupted discussions with other manufacturers, as their contacts within Tesla were no longer available.
Tesla has since begun rehiring some Supercharger workers, presumably allowing progress on NACS adoption to resume. Ford’s adapter-shipping process has also experienced delays, likely due to the Supercharger team upheaval. This reorganisation suggests that announcements for manufacturers scheduled for spring may be imminent. With Mercedes added to the list, Mercedes owners can expect Supercharging to be available “soon”—though a wait of several months seems likely.