Electric vehicle maker Rivian says it will follow the lead of General Motors and Ford in adapting to Tesla's electric charging network next year.
The truck, SUV and van maker said Tuesday that, like GM and Ford, it will include ports with Tesla's connector on future vehicles starting in 2025. It will also offer an adapter to owners of current Rivian models.
The auto industry as a whole is considering adapting to Tesla's connector, which it calls the North American Standard Charger. Today, almost all automakers except Tesla use the so-called CCS connector created in conjunction with the Society of Automotive Engineers.
Tesla has more DC chargers in the United States than any other network, and its stations are in prime locations on highways.
Other automakers are studying the change. Last week, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said that his company's teams in the United States are studying the change and will make a decision in the coming weeks.
“We are evaluating that possibility,” Tavares said in a brief interview with The Associated Press. “It can have advantages and disadvantages.”
He said the pros are under study and the cons include relying on Tesla.
Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler, doesn't have all-electric vehicles for sale in the United States, but it does sell three hybrids capable of traveling long distances on a battery. The company expects to sell an electric commercial van in the coming months, followed by a Ram pickup and other electric vehicles.
Rivian is a relatively small competitor in the US market, with just under 30,000 vehicles sold from 2021 through the first quarter of this year. But the Irvine, California-based company is seen as a key competitor to Tesla.
