Tesla opens Supercharger network to rivals (2023)
In May 2023, Ford announced its EVs would adopt Tesla's North American Charging Standard connector, giving Ford owners access to Tesla's Supercharger network. General Motors followed in June. Within months, most major automakers had signed on.
Tesla's proprietary charging network became shared infrastructure almost overnight.
NACS became the de facto US charging standard, and Tesla's network became a revenue source rather than just a competitive moat.
Like NIO Power, Tesla's network was a proprietary advantage that became shared infrastructure when rivals joined. The NIO-Geely deal follows the same logic: turn a competitive moat into a standard.
