- The Kia EV6 and EV9 were supposed to get Tesla Supercharger access this week.
- That isn’t happening, with the rollout pushed to sometime in the first quarter of 2025.
- Kia is also preparing to launch updated versions of its EV6 and EV9 SUVs, both with Tesla-style NACS charging ports from the factory.
Kia EV9 and EV6 owners were supposed to get access to over 16,000 Tesla Superchargers tomorrow, January 15. But it looks like that isn’t happening. Kia’s public relations department confirmed that the rollout has been delayed, after it was initially reported by PCMag.
“Thanks for checking in, and yes we can confirm the update on PCMag in that there will be a slight delay in Supercharger access,” James Bell, Kia’s head of PR, confirmed to InsideEVs via email. “We are committed to an exceptional ownership experience and expansion of the network of available DC fast chargers for our EV customers is an important component of our growing leadership in electrified mobility.”
An updated version of the press release announcing the Supercharger access timeline now says it’s coming in the “first quarter of 2025,” a period that ends on March 31.
Pressed for more specificity, Bell said there was “[n]o new target date to share at this moment” but promised to keep us updated.
Kia isn’t the first automaker to delay its Supercharger rollout plans at the last minute. I spent the summer trying to get answers from General Motors, which insisted its “Spring 2024” schedule was on track until the very last day. Actual access did not arrive until September 2024.
Ford’s initial rollout arrived on time, but North American Charging System (NACS) to Combined Charging System (CCS) adapter delays and a recall mean that it took a long, long time for most customers to gain access. Rivian also dealt with adapter supply-chain delays.
Kia may have an easier time of it, as the company is only providing Supercharger access to EV6s and EV9s. Cheaper, older models like the Niro EV won’t get access to Tesla chargers, which should make it easier to satisfy adapter demand. The updated 2025 Kia EV6 and 2025 Kia EV9 will also get a NACS port from the factory, giving them native support for Tesla Superchargers. That too should ease demand for adapters.
So hopefully, when Kias are put onto the Supercharger network, actually getting an adapter will be easy. The delay in GM’s rollout meant that getting an adapter for my personal Blazer EV was easy and quick. Hopefully, editor-in-chief Patrick George will get to have similar luck with his personal EV6.
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