- After a multitude of EV manufacturers pledged to support Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) in its future North American-bound electric cars, it looks like Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 EV will be the first EV region to hit the roads with the new standard.
- It comes as the refreshed IONIQ 5 is set to launch in the US, this fall.
- The refreshed model also marks the start of IONIQ 5 production within the USA, after previous US-bound models were built at Hyundai’s factories abroad.
Upcoming US IONIQ 5 first to have plug-and-play NACS support
Whilst a large number of EV manufacturers selling in the US will support the standard in 2025, the IONIQ 5’s earlier adoption means it’ll have native access to the 17,000-plus chargers on the North American Tesla Supercharger network, without the need for an adapter, which current non-Tesla EVs require to use the Supercharger network. With the NACS port being the sole port on the new IONIQ 5, however, it’ll come with a CCS adapter in the meantime, while North American CPOs also continue to switch to the NACS standard. Hyundai also confirmed that all-new and refreshed Hyundai EVs sold in the US will come with the NACS charging port, from October.
The refresh also introduced a new offroad-focused ‘XRT’ level for the IONIQ 5 in the US, adding all-terrain tires, lifted suspension, and a number of visual changes.
José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor North America, commented:
“We’re continuing to give customers more of what they want by expanding the IONIQ 5 lineup with a dedicated off-road-capable XRT model, NACS port, design upgrades and a long list of features developed with customers in mind. The high-performance IONIQ 5 N shows how exciting EVs can be and has been a halo for our entire brand. We’re taking ‘America’s Most Awarded EV Lineup’ from strength to strength.”
