Mazda Is About To Leapfrog Everyone When It Comes To EVs

The North American Charging Standard has just gone international. At the same time, Mazda shows that it will continue to have one of the strangest electric vehicle plans anywhere. That’s because while the Japanese automaker doesn’t currently offer any vehicles with the North American standard plug in North America, not even the MX-30, it will start selling vehicles with them at home, becoming just the second automaker (after the inventor of the plug) to use it in that country.

Mazda announced that it had reached an agreement with Tesla to start using the standard in Japan. The Japanese automaker will add the plugs to its vehicles starting with models launched in 2027.

Tesla’s Charging Plug Begins World Takeover

The North American Charging Standard plug, also known as NACS, SAE J3400, or by its original name, the Tesla plug, is quickly becoming the default charging plug in the U.S. and Canada. It is replacing the J1772 and CCS1 plugs, which were used on most EVs other than those of Tesla, Nissan, and Mitsubishi for charging.

Every one of Tesla’s Supercharger stations uses it, as it has been the Tesla plug since the first Model S in 2012. Tesla’s extensive network means there are more Level 3 stations using that plug than any other. Other automakers began announcing in early 2023 that they would start adding the plug to their cars. Adapters started showing up in 2024, and OEMs started installing NACS ports in their EVs late last year.

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Mazda said it is adding NACS in Japan “to provide customers with greater convenience by a broader range of charging options.” It will let Mazda’s EV owners use Tesla Superchargers in Japan. They will also support other charge standards in that country with adapters.

Move Could Boost Mazda EV Prominence

In the U.S., Mazda was one of the last automakers to announce it would adopt the NACS charge plug. It still does not offer it on its CX-70 and CX-90 PHEV models, though it is anticipated to be coming in the next few years. While Mazda said it will add NACS to all EVs introduced in the US from 2025 onward, it’s not clear when Mazda will launch an EV in the U.S. The short-lived MX-30 EV was discontinued in 2023 after less than two years of sales.

While Mazda is behind in the U.S. on both EVs and NACS, this could be a big turnaround for the brand and put it at the head of the curve at home. Aside from Tesla, only one other automaker has announced plans to use NACS. That’s Sony Honda Mobility, which said its Afeela EVs would use the standard. Though that vehicle is still not on sale anywhere in the world.

It is anticipated in the U.S. later this year, but it’s not clear when the U.S.-built model might be sold in Japan.

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Would you buy the Mazda EZ-60 EV instead of a Tesla Model Y if it ever came to the USA?

Mazda doesn’t have an EV on sale in the United States right now, but the freshly revealed EZ-60 has me excited about the Japanese marque’s potential in this space. Sleek and low-slung on the outside, it makes a great first impression, and I expect a high-end interior like most other Mazdas. But would you buy one over the top-selling Model Y, if given the opportunity?

That could make Mazda the first non-Tesla automaker to use NACS in Japan. A big deal for it and for the plug. The brand currently offers the MX-30 as its only EV in Japan, though it has an electric sedan called the EZ-6 on sale in China. It is expected to deliver an in-house electric SUV for Japan in 2027, which would be the first with the new plug.