Japan is reportedly considering the inclusion of Tesla electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in its subsidy programme as part of the ongoing trade negotiations with the US.
This development follows the US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer’s call for Japan to improve its subsidy policies to encompass Tesla’s Supercharger network.
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The Japanese government currently provides subsidies solely for EV charging stations that adhere to the CHAdeMO standard, a protocol developed in Japan.
Although Tesla vehicles can connect to CHAdeMO stations using an adapter, the reverse compatibility does not exist for CHAdeMO vehicles with Tesla Superchargers.
As trade discussions progress, Japan and the US are preparing for a third round of tariff negotiations, with Japanese lead negotiator Ryosei Akazawa expected to visit Washington next week.
The Nikkei business daily has also reported that Japanese negotiators may seek to discuss a reduction in US tariffs on Japanese goods, which include a 25% tariff on automobiles and auto parts and a 24% tariff on other products, rather than insisting on their complete removal.
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By GlobalDataAlso, in April, Tesla has experienced a 20% decline in first-quarter revenues for the period ending 31 March 2025, with total automotive revenues falling to $13.97bn from $17.38bn in the previous year.
The company has attributed this decrease to upgrades at its four vehicle factories, which have been adapted to produce a refreshed version of the Model Y SUV, resulting in several weeks of halted production.
Also, Tesla plans to recommence the shipment of components from China to the US for the production of the Cybercab and Semi truck by the end of May.
This move comes on the heels of a recent easing of trade tensions between the US and China, following talks in Geneva.
