Mazda has announced it will adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) for electric vehicles (EVs) in Japan.
In a press release Mazda confirmed it has reached an agreement with Tesla to integrate NACS charging ports into future EV models launched in the Japanese market, beginning in 2027. This will allow Mazda EV drivers to access Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network across Japan, significantly expanding charging options for future customers.
“Mazda adopted NACS to provide customers with greater convenience by a broader range of charging options,” the company said. “This will provide Mazda BEV customers with access to Tesla Superchargers across Japan.”
While Mazda’s future EVs will come equipped with NACS ports, the automaker did not mention whether NACS adapters will be provided to owners prior to the 2027 integration. Mazda did note however that its EVs will also remain compatible with other charging standards through the use of adapters.
Tesla’s NACS connector, as the name implies, was originally designed for the North American market, but it is now gaining traction abroad. Mazda’s decision follows a similar move by Sony Honda Mobility, which announced last year that its AFEELA EVs would also feature the NACS connector.
Currently, Japan’s dominant charging standard is CHAdeMO. However, Tesla’s Director of Charging Max de Zegher said with Mazda’s adoption that “NACS becoming the standard in Japan (and South Korea) seems like only a matter of time now.” He also noted that other fast-charging networks are beginning to install NACS connectors in Japan, further supporting the transition.
NACS becoming the standard in Japan (and South Korea) seems like only a matter of time now. It’s also great to see other fast-charging networks starting to install NACS in Japan. @TeslaCharging is accelerating the transition to NACS, for the industry to get clarity faster.… https://t.co/EULMZAwtov
— Max (@MdeZegher) May 9, 2025
In North America, Mazda has already agreed to adopt NACS, but unlike in Japan, this transition will happen later this year.
The NACS connector has already been embraced by nearly all major automakers in North America, including Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, and EV automakers such as Rivian and Lucid, making it the new standard for future EV development.
