Mercedes-Benz is currently assessing the potential impact of recent layoffs at Tesla on its plans to provide access to Tesla’s Supercharger network for their electric vehicle (EV) owners.
Tesla’s Supercharger network has been considered the gold standard in EV charging infrastructure, offering fast and reliable charging across North America and beyond. Mercedes-Benz, along with almost all other major automakers, have signed deals to adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), which in turn gives them access to the expansive Supercharger network.
Earlier this week Tesla updated the list of automakers that will get access “soon,” adding Mercedes Benz, alongside GM, Polestar, and Volvo, the three of which were previously listed as gaining access in the spring.
After this update, and with the delays seen by GM, Volvo, and Polestar, a Mercedes Benz spokesperson said the automaker is assessing how the recent firing of Tesla’s North American Supercharging teams will impact the timing of their access.
“We are currently assessing how Tesla’s latest announcements may affect our plans,” the spokesperson told PCMag. “We assume that Tesla will fulfill its contractual obligations [and] we continue to aim for Mercedes-Benz customers to have access to Tesla Superchargers in North America later this year (2024).”
Currently, non-Tesla EVs can use Tesla’s Superchargers with an adapter, though the supply of these adapters has not been able to keep up with demand, with many Ford and GM owners still waiting to receive their. By 2025, automakers plan to build new vehicles with the NACS port, eliminating the need for adapters altogether.
In addition to seeking access to Tesla’s Supercharger network, Mercedes-Benz is still committed to building out and expanding its own charging infrastructure. The Mercedes-Benz Charging Network, which went live in late 2023, aims to have 10,000 stations worldwide by the end of the decade, with 2,500 chargers in the US by 2030. These stations will be open to all EV brands and will use 100% renewable energy.
