Kia was set to become the latest automaker to give owners access to Tesla’s Supercharger network, but that development has been delayed. The automaker confirmed the change in an email to InsideEVs and would only commit to opening access during the first quarter of the year. PCMag first reported on the story.
Kia EV6 and EV9 owners were scheduled to gain access to Tesla’s chargers this week. Kia’s head of PR, James Bell, told InsideEVs, “Thanks for checking in, and yes we can confirm the update on PCMag in that there will be a slight delay in Supercharger access. We are committed to an exceptional ownership experience and expansion of the network of available DC fast chargers for our EV customers, which is an important component of our growing leadership in electrified mobility.”
This isn’t all that surprising, as many other automakers have seen delays. Ford’s adapter was delayed and then recalled for issues that could slow charging speeds or damage the charging port. Meanwhile, others are just getting started, including Volkswagen, which said it would open access to the Supercharger network in the June/July timeframe this year. As InsideEVs pointed out, Kia’s only including the EV6 and EV9 in this process for now, which should make the rollout easier without needing to accommodate older EVs like the Niro.
[Images: Kia]
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