Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that it will adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its battery electric vehicles (BEVs) launched in Japan from 2027 onward. This move aims to provide more convenience to Mazda’s electric car customers by offering a wider range of charging options. With the NACS, Mazda customers will have access to Tesla Superchargers in Japan, in addition to other charging standards using adapters. This decision is expected to benefit Mazda customers, particularly in Japan, where CHAdeMO fast chargers are widespread but their expansion is slowing down.
Mazda’s adoption of the NACS is not a surprise, as the company had already announced its plans to use the standard for its US models in January 2024. The NACS, which was previously a proprietary Tesla design, was released in November 2022 and has since been adopted by several car manufacturers, including Ford, GM, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW, for their electric cars in North America.
The widespread use and high reliability of Superchargers in North America have made it an attractive option for manufacturers to adopt the NACS, rather than building their own fast-charging networks. While it remains to be seen whether other Japanese carmakers will follow Mazda’s lead in Japan, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Subaru have already adopted the NACS for their US models.
The adoption of the NACS by Mazda is expected to enhance the charging experience for its customers in Japan, providing them with a wider range of charging options and increased convenience. With the NACS gaining traction globally, it will be interesting to see how other car manufacturers respond and whether the standard will become a widely adopted norm in the industry.
In Japan, Mazda’s decision to adopt the NACS may encourage other carmakers to follow suit, potentially leading to a more unified charging standard in the country. As the electric vehicle market continues to grow, the importance of standardization and interoperability in charging infrastructure will become increasingly important. Mazda’s move is a significant step in this direction, and it will be interesting to see how the industry evolves in response to this development.