Despite Tesla’s recent scaling back of Supercharger operations, it seems that Ionna, the electric vehicle charging network funded directly by seven automakers, remains undeterred in its ambitions.
The charging network, supported by BMW Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis, has reiterated its goal to establish a network encompassing over 30,000 high-power urban and highway-adjacent rapid-charging connections. Progress is already visible on the initial phases of this ambitious plan, with the first charging stations in the U.S. expected to be operational by 2024.
Initially unveiled in July 2023 and officially launched with the support of seven major automakers in February, Ionna is transitioning out of its stealth phase.
North America, depicted in Ionna EV charging network announcement
Announcing its headquarters location in Durham, North Carolina today, the charging network has confirmed key leadership appointments: Derek Rush as CFO, previously serving in a similar role at BP Pulse, Ricardo Stamatti as chief product officer, former top executive in Stellantis Energy, and Shankar Muthukumar as COO, previously associated with Mortenson, a construction and development firm. CEO Seth Cutler was introduced in February.
Ionna had initially emphasized its commitment to delivering a superior customer experience, promising a high degree of focus on interface design, operational reliability, and enhanced amenities at charging points. The days of makeshift charging bays in remote areas may soon be past.
The network has also pledged to operate on sustainable energy sources, integrate reservation systems and smart route planning, and fully support Plug & Charge technology from launch, reducing the need for manual credit card swipes or app interactions. While starting with 350-kilowatt connectors, Ionna aims to offer the most advanced charging capabilities on the market consistently.