Tesla is continuing to rethink what charging infrastructure can look like. The automaker has officially opened a new Supercharger site in Gyeongju, South Korea, marking the first time in Asia that a traditional gas station has been converted into a dedicated EV charging hub.
The new location, which opened on April 4, represents more than just another addition to Tesla’s growing charging network. It highlights a broader shift in how legacy fuel infrastructure can be repurposed to support the transition to electric vehicles, especially in markets where EV adoption is accelerating rapidly.
South Korea is one of those markets. Tesla has seen a significant surge in demand in the country, with EV sales rising sharply in the first quarter of 2026, allowing Tesla to become the top-selling import brand in the country for the first time ever.
To mark the opening, Tesla Korea hosted a launch event at the site that went beyond just plugging in cars, with the company offering free charging to all EV drivers, not just Tesla owners. The event also featured a Cybertruck display, mobile service checkups, and locally inspired merchandise, turning the launch into more of a community showcase than a standard infrastructure rollout.
🚨 한국 경주에서 테슬라 슈퍼차저 오프닝 행사 영상 공개
— TeslaZoa (@TeslaZoa) April 7, 2026
기존 주유소가 현대적인 슈퍼차저 스테이션으로 탈바꿈한 모습이 인상적입니다pic.twitter.com/CgGP76iTjc https://t.co/n7B2qv3mIO
While this is a first for Asia, Tesla has already tested this concept elsewhere. In early 2025 the company converted a former Shell gas station in Córdoba, Spain into a Supercharger site, retaining the original structure while redesigning it for EV charging.
Tesla isn’t alone in exploring this approach. Oil and gas companies themselves have begun experimenting with similar transformations. Shell, for example, started converting gas stations in the United Kingdom into EV-only charging locations several years ago, with plans to rapidly expand its network. Even earlier, an independent station in Takoma Park, Maryland made headlines as one of the first in the world to fully transition from gasoline to electric charging.
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