Mercedes-Benz has made a groundbreaking announcement today, revealing its plans to incorporate the North American Charging Standard (NACS) into its electric vehicle lineup in North America starting from 2025. This move positions the company as the first German original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to commit to implementing the NACS charging inlet in its new electric vehicles.
Earlier this year, reports suggested that Mercedes-Benz was considering a switch to the NACS, but it was not official at the time. Now, the company has confirmed its intention to adopt this charging standard, marking a significant milestone in the electric vehicle industry.
Prior to the implementation of the NACS, Mercedes-Benz will make NACS to Combined Charging System (CCS1) adapters available in 2024. This strategic step aims to provide Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle owners access to over 12,000 Tesla Supercharging stations across North America.
The agreement between Mercedes-Benz and Tesla follows similar moves by other major players in the automotive industry. Ford, General Motors, Rivian, Volvo, and Polestar have all expressed their commitment to the NACS charging connector, which is expected to become the standard set by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in the near future.
It is worth noting that Mercedes-Benz does not plan to abandon its own High-Power Charging Network. In fact, the company has an ambitious vision to establish more than 2,000 Charging Hubs, with over 10,000 individual stalls, in key markets such as North America, Europe, and China by the end of the decade. Within this total, there will be 400 Charging Hubs and over 2,500 chargers in North America alone.
The first Charging Hubs in North America are scheduled to open before the end of 2023, equipped with both CCS1 and NACS plugs to cater to a wide range of electric vehicles. Notably, Mercedes-Benz has also pledged that its fast charging network will be accessible to electric vehicles from all brands, emphasizing its commitment to supporting the wider adoption of electric mobility.
Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management at Mercedes-Benz Group AG, emphasized the company’s dedication to enhancing the electric vehicle experience for customers. Källenius stated, “Our strategic priority is clear: Building the world’s most desirable cars. To accelerate the shift to electric vehicles, we are dedicated to elevating the entire EV-experience for our customers – including fast, convenient, and reliable charging solutions wherever their Mercedes-Benz takes them. That’s why we are committed to building our global Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging Network, with the first sites opening this year. In parallel, we are also implementing NACS in our vehicles, allowing drivers to access an expansive network of high-quality charging offerings in North America.”
