Kia has announced that starting on January 15, 2024, its electric vehicle owners will gain access to over 16,500 Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. The automaker will then provide free NACS (North American Charging Standard) adapters to customers who purchased an EV9 or EV6 after September 4, 2024. However, owners of older models will need to buy the adapters at an undisclosed cost.
The free NACS adapters will begin shipping to eligible customers in early 2025. They will also be available for purchase through authorized Kia dealers for current Kia EV owners, although the exact release date for sales has not been confirmed. This mirrors a recent move by GM, which announced that its EV customers would need to pay $225 for a NACS adapter to access Tesla’s charging network.
Kia is also preparing for future models that will come equipped with native Tesla connectors. To maintain compatibility with CCS-based DC fast chargers and level 2 AC chargers, the automaker will offer adapters, allowing these future models to use traditional charging stations. Additionally, Kia will roll out a software update in early 2025 that will enable in-car payment and charging directly through the infotainment system, streamlining the charging experience for EV owners.
Kia, along with its sister company Hyundai, was one of the last major automakers to announce the adoption of Tesla’s NACS connector. This follows in the footsteps of Ford, Rivian, and GM, which have already enabled Tesla Supercharger access for their EV customers. With this move, Kia is positioning its EV lineup to benefit from Tesla’s extensive charging infrastructure as the market for electric vehicles continues to grow rapidly.
