Toyota joins North American fast-charging alliance Ionna
Joining forces with other automakers to set up charging infrastructure in North America will ensure that Toyota and Lexus drivers will have access to high-powered public charging in the future, said Ted Ogawa, president and CEO of Toyota Motor North America. Moreover, it will “promote the adoption of BEVs and increase customer confidence in the technology,” he added.
Seven carmakers—BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis—joined forces in the summer of 2023 to create at least 30,000 fast-charging points in North America. The joint venture will open the first charging hubs this summer in the US and later in Canada. The charging power remains unspecified but will likely be at a minimum of 150 kW. All chargers will feature CCS and NACS plugs.
“We are delighted to welcome Toyota to our growing IONNA family,” said Ionna CEO Seth Cutler. “Their vision for the future of electric mobility in North America aligns perfectly with our mission to push the boundaries for the highest standards of quality, reliability, and customer experience. This partnership marks another significant achievement of many to come in our joint journey to transform EV charging and spearhead the adoption of sustainable transportation in North America.”
The joint venture received antitrust approvals in February and announced its headquarters in Durham in the US state of North Carolina, as well as the appointment of several key executives to its leadership team in June.
Toyota currently offers the bZ4X and the Lexus RZ as battery-electric vehicles in North America. By 2030, the OEM wants to have some 30 BEV models on offer. At least two of them, both three-row electric SUVs, will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (TMMI).
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