Tesla has gotten its newest adoptee of the North American Charging Standard (NACS) as Sony Honda Mobility adopted the connector for AFEELA EVs, but there’s also a new first.
Sony Honda Mobility (SHM) will be the first company in the Japanese market to adopt the NACS connector for EVs.
The AFEELA EVs will be available initially in the United States in 2025, and they will be coming to Japan shortly thereafter.
Adoption of the NACS connector is a drastic step for many automakers because it is a commitment that they plan to let their drivers utilize the Tesla Supercharger Network, which is the most robust on Earth.
There are over 60,000 locations where Tesla Supercharger stalls are available, and that number grows nearly every day with new installations occurring in various markets.
Max de Zegher, Tesla’s Director of Charging, commented on SHM’s adoption of the NACS connector:
“Tesla Superchargers represent the largest global network, with 60,000 Superchargers and growing. In Japan, 90% of 150kW+ chargers are Superchargers. True to Tesla’s mission, we also want to be helpful to companies going electric, and improve charging experiences for all EV drivers. That’s why we’re excited to see the North American Charging Standard (NACS) gaining traction in Japan, and we welcome Sony Honda Mobility as the first automaker to join the movement.”
Yasuhide Mizuno, Representative Director, Chairman, and CEO of SHM, also commented:
“Sony Honda Mobility is committed to pursuing value creation centered around people for driving pleasure and an entertaining in-car experience. We prioritize customer convenience even in charging and have decided to adopt NACS. We sincerely thank Tesla for providing us the opportunity to adopt NACS as well as their latest and advanced technology-equipped V3 and V4 Superchargers for AFEELA.”
Tesla Superchargers have already been opened to several automakers, including Ford, Rivian, and, most recently, General Motors. However, there are plenty of other companies that have already committed to adopting NACS, which will enable their cars to use the Supercharger Network.
As for SHM, it will open pre-orders for AFEELA EVs in the first half of 2025, and sales are expected to start later that year. Deliveries are currently planned for Spring 2026 in the U.S.
The cars will be available in Japan in the second half of 2026.
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