General Motors (GM) has recently announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Tesla to incorporate Tesla’s charging connector design into all GM electric vehicles beginning in 2025.
This partnership is a key component of GM’s strategy to double its annual revenue by 2030 through a focus on electric and autonomous vehicles, connected services, and new businesses. By integrating Tesla’s charging infrastructure, GM aims to expand access to fast chargers for its customers, streamline the transition to electric vehicles, and potentially establish a single North American charging standard.
In a press release, GM CEO Mary Barra said, "This collaboration is a key part of our strategy and an important next step in giving our customers faster access to fast chargers."
She was elected Chair of the GM Board of Directors on January 4, 2016, and has been CEO of GM since January 15, 2014. Under Barra's leadership, GM wants to see a world with no accidents, which would save lives, no pollution, so that future generations can live on a healthier planet, and no traffic jams, so that customers can get back their most valuable resource: time.
She is focused on improving the customer experience and strengthening GM's core vehicle and services business. She is also working to lead the transformation of personal mobility through advanced technologies like connectivity, electrification, and self-driving cars.
Before becoming CEO, Barra had been GM's executive vice president of Global Product Development, Purchasing, and Supply Chain since August 2013, and its senior vice president of Global Product Development since February 2011. Barra and her teams were in charge of the design, engineering, and quality of all GM vehicle launches around the world in these roles.
Through this collaboration, GM EV drivers will gain access to over 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across North America, in addition to the existing 134,000 chargers available to GM customers. Starting in 2024, GM EV drivers will be able to use the Tesla Supercharger Network by utilizing an adapter.
However, beginning in 2025, GM’s electric vehicles will be built with a direct inlet for seamless access to Tesla Superchargers. Furthermore, GM plans to integrate the Tesla Supercharger Network into its vehicle and mobile apps, enabling drivers to easily locate, pay for, and initiate charging at Tesla Superchargers.
Both GM and Tesla share a common goal of accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy. By providing widespread access to reliable charging infrastructure, they aim to support the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
Together, these initiatives will result in the integration of over 5,000 fast chargers into North America’s charging infrastructure by 2025. As a result, GM customers will have access to one of the largest and most extensive networks of high-power charging stations in the region.
GM’s forward-thinking approach extends beyond its collaboration with Tesla. Ford has also entered into an agreement with Tesla to leverage its fast charger technology in its vehicles, further promoting standardization within the industry.
By 2025, GM intends to incorporate the North American Charging Standard charging technology, aligning itself with the broader goal of establishing a unified charging standard.
This collaboration, coupled with GM’s existing partnerships and ambitious growth plans, positions the company as a leader in the electric vehicle market and underscores its commitment to a sustainable future.