General Motors Co., Stellantis NV, and five other prominent car manufacturers have formed a collaboration to establish a vast network of fast chargers for electric vehicles across North America. The group, which also includes Hyundai, Kia, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW, plans to install a minimum of 30,000 fast chargers that support both Tesla's North American Charging Standard and the Combined Charging System.
The new charging stations will commence operation from summer 2024 and aim to address the growing demand for fast-charging infrastructure as electric vehicle adoption surges. This joint venture signifies a significant move towards competition in the fast-charging market, as various automakers, such as GM, Ford, and Mercedes, have already committed to adopting Tesla's Supercharger network in North America, while simultaneously establishing their own charging stations.
The expansion of charging infrastructure is particularly crucial as automakers set ambitious targets for electric vehicle sales. For instance, GM aims to manufacture 1 million EVs in the US by 2025, while Ford aims for an annual production of 2 million electric vehicles by 2026. Stellantis, on the other hand, aspires for half of its sales to be electric by 2030.
However, while these automakers share the common goal of bolstering EV adoption and profitability through expanded charging infrastructure, there are concerns about Tesla's dominance in the market. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares acknowledged the need to be strategically mindful of Tesla's influence and ensure that charging infrastructure does not become a marketing tool for competitors to allure customers.
The joint venture, which is yet to be named, plans to initially open its charging stations in metropolitan areas and along major highways in the US. However, further details, such as the timeline for completing the 30,000 charging stations, have not been provided at this stage.
It is worth noting that, as of last year, Tesla boasted the largest number of ultra-fast connectors in the US, with 13,878 connectors, while Electrify America, mainly owned by Volkswagen, had 3,737 connectors. The new charging joint venture aims to almost double the number of installed fast chargers, significantly expanding the availability and accessibility of fast-charging infrastructure for electric vehicle owners.