Following multiple delays, Volkswagen will finally open up access to the Tesla Supercharger network for its EVs, which at this point include the ID.4 crossover and ID.Buzz minivan. With access to 25,000 DC fast chargers across America, this move will be welcomed by owners of these VWs.
A Volkswagen-approved NACS adapter will need to be purchased by consumers for access to the Tesla Superchargers at a cost of $200. Owners of 2025 models will get a $100 rebate on the adapter, but it will be standard on all 2026 VW EVs.
VW Finally Catches Up
VW NACS charger adapter
It was well over two years ago that Ford CEO Jim Farley announced its EVs would be compatible with Tesla’s Supercharger network, a change that directly benefitted the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the ID.4’s direct rival. Over a year ago, GM also released its NACS adapter for its EVs, so VW is rather late to the party.
“This is great news for our EV owners,” said Petar Danilovic, Senior Vice President, Product Marketing and Strategy, Volkswagen of America. “They will now be able to access the more than 25,000 DC fast chargers on the Tesla Supercharger network across the United States, in addition to the more than 5,000 fast chargers on Electrify America’s grid. This makes life much more convenient, whether you are taking a road trip or you rely on public charging should home charging not be an option.”
VW
As with other NACS-enabled EVs, VW owners can use the Tesla app to pay for charging sessions or to find compatible chargers. Some owners of 2024 or 2025 VW EVs will receive communication about a software update that will support optimal charging, and the new adapter can be purchased online or via a VW dealership.
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Up-and-Down Year for ID.4
Volkswagen
Although sales of the VW ID.4 were strong earlier in the year, they started to decline more recently. Back in July, average discounts for the electric crossover were sitting at over $11,000, as dealers did everything they could to sell them. Then, in September, VW elected to slow down production of the EV at its Chattanooga plant, and the scrapping of the EV tax credit didn’t help matters either. Sales rebounded in Q3 just before the tax credit fell away, but another dip is anticipated this quarter.
Pricing is another problem. At the moment, the most affordable ID.4 you can buy costs $45,095, far more than the base Ford Mustang Mach-E or Tesla Model Y. Despite its higher price, the ID.4 doesn’t lead the class in any particular area, either.
It’s for these reasons that the ID.4 is set to get a completely new design, expected soon. From a new exterior to a more user-friendly interior, VW clearly felt the vehicle needed a total overhaul, at a point in its life cycle where a milder facelift would’ve been expected.
The new NACS adapter is welcome, but it’s not going to be enough. Just as Toyota realized the original bZ4X wasn’t good enough and quickly made a bevy of changes to its EV (including a simpler name, now called the bZ), VW will look to improve its most important EV in the same fashion.
