Durham: Ionna, an electric vehicle (EV) charging joint venture formed by eight global automakers, including Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp., announced on Wednesday that it has officially transitioned from its public beta phase to a national rollout in the United States. The joint venture is celebrating this significant milestone with an opening ceremony at its headquarters in Durham, North Carolina.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the partnership comprises leading automotive companies such as BMW, General Motors, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Toyota. Ionna has already commenced operations at several new charging sites, including locations in Houston, Texas, and Abilene, Kansas. The company has plans to expand further, with six additional charging stations currently under construction and site contracts secured for over 100 locations nationwide.

Since late 2024, Ionna has been dedicated to testing its charging infrastructure, conducting 4,400 charging sessions across 80 different vehicle models to ensure compatibility and performance. The company aims to install over 1,000 chargers across the nation by the end of 2025, with a long-term goal of deploying more than 30,000 charging stations by 2030.

Currently, Tesla dominates the fast-charging station market in the United States, accounting for approximately two-thirds of all available stations. The charging alliance formed by Hyundai and other automakers is anticipated to reduce dependence on Tesla's network, offering more options for EV owners across the country.