Today, the BMW Group declared it will start using the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug endorsed by Tesla for its electric cars sold in North America.
Starting in early 2025, new BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce vehicles will be equipped to charge at Tesla stations. They'll also display Supercharger locations on their in-car screens, and owners can pay through their respective brand’s app.
“With six fully electric BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce models now available in the U.S. market, and more to come, it is our top priority to ensure that our drivers have easy access to reliable, fast charging,” said Sebastian Mackensen, President & CEO, BMW of North America. “This agreement is the latest in our longstanding and continued effort to expand charging options for our customers as we continue on the road to electrification.”
This change applies only to cars sold in the United States and Canada. In Europe, BMW will stick with the Combined Charging System (CCS) plug, as it is the mandated style for customer ease.
BMW joins other car makers like Ford, GM, Rivian, Volvo, Mercedes, Nissan, Jaguar, and the Hyundai Group in planning to use the NACS plug for their electric vehicles.
Tesla's NACS plug gained traction in the U.S. and Canada because of Tesla's early success in electric vehicles. The design has also proven to be highly reliable compared to other options.
BMW’s decision to use the NACS plug is separate from its plan to launch a collaborative charging network with six other automakers in North America. The company aims to roll out 30,000 new chargers soon, supporting both NACS and CCS plugs.
Source: BMW