Tesla Set to Open Supercharger Access for Volkswagen Owners Later This Year

Tesla is preparing to expand its Supercharger network to include Volkswagen, the latest non-Tesla electric vehicle (EV) brand to gain access in the upcoming months.

While Volkswagen's vehicles are set to connect to Tesla Superchargers starting in March, the company anticipates that it won't begin shipping the necessary NACS adapters to owners until June or July. Mark Gillies, Director of Public Relations for Volkswagen Group of America, stated at CES in Las Vegas, “We will have access to the network in June/July, once we have the official VW adapter.”

To date, Tesla has opened its Supercharger network to EVs from Ford, Rivian, General Motors (GM), Volvo, Polestar, and Nissan, with Mercedes-Benz expected to be next in line before Volkswagen. This development comes amid speculation that Volkswagen might be one of the last automakers to gain access, largely due to its delayed adoption of the NACS charging standard and its ownership of the competing Electrify America charging network.

You can find more information about Tesla's plans to broaden Supercharger access on their website, although Volkswagen is not yet listed as "coming soon" at this time. It's also unclear when vehicles from Volkswagen's brands, including Audi, Porsche, and the new Scout, will be able to access the network. This news follows closely on the heels of Volkswagen's recent launch of the ID.Buzz in the U.S. market.
Last year, Rivian and Volkswagen announced a joint venture, with the German automaker investing $5 billion into the startup. The two companies are expected to collaborate on both a software platform and the development of electric vehicles. However, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has recently voiced doubts about how these companies plan to finance their initiatives.