GM to Join Ford in Using Tesla’s Charging Network

General Motors (GM) has joined forces with Tesla, following in the footsteps of its crosstown competitor, Ford Motors. This partnership sees GM leveraging Tesla's national charging network.

Starting next year, GM drivers can use Tesla's extensive installation of 12,000 fast chargers by using an adapter and GM's EV charging app.

In a similar vein to Ford, GM plans to incorporate Tesla's charging port, known as the North American Charging Standard (NACS), in its EVs from 2025 onward. This move signifies a departure from the prevailing industry-standard Combined Charging System (CCS).

Analysts expect that as Tesla's charging technology gains prominence through these partnerships, other automakers, as well as the U.S. government, which has made substantial investments in expanding the EV charging network, will face mounting pressure to adopt Tesla's technology.

When the Tesla-Ford deal was announced last month, it was widely lauded by Wall Street analysts as a "win-win" situation. As a result, both GM and Tesla saw a 3% surge in their stocks during after-hours trading on Thursday. 

This news signifies a significant shift in GM’s strategy. Just a few weeks ago, it was collaborating with engineering organization SAE International to develop and refine an open connector standard for CCS. However, the recent collaboration with Tesla means GM has abandoned that plan.

The GM-Tesla partnership, much like the Ford-Tesla collaboration, is expected to benefit both companies. This strategic alliance will expand the availability of fast chargers for GM and Ford customers, while also driving increased utilization of Tesla's charging network.