It’s been ten years since Tesla shook up the automotive world, and guess what? The older car makers are still trying to catch up, especially in the arena that put Tesla on the map. They might be able to whip up some pretty good electric cars—heck, even a few fantastic ones—but they still fall short when it comes to the complete experience that makes Tesla unique.
This contrast is glaring as soon as you hit the road in an EV.
Beyond Just the Car
When Tesla rolled out the Model S in 2012, it was a game-changer. Sure, the company had been around for a while, but that’s when they really nailed down their vision: a fully electric sedan built from the ground up, creating a market that hardly existed before and shattering any preconceived ideas of what an EV could be.
Since then, Tesla has only improved on that vision. You may have heard, but at different times, it’s been hailed as the leading luxury sedan, the most popular premium vehicle, and the champion of EV sales worldwide. Their market value eclipses that of the entire automotive industry combined.
The Complete Package
Recently, I took a 650-mile journey in a 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT, which many say is one of the best EVs from a traditional carmaker in the U.S. Sounds great, right? But the reality is that Hyundai just doesn’t have all the pieces working together for a seamless experience yet.
Tesla definitely has it figured out. Their charging network is not only more reliable but also easier to access and cheaper compared to the competition. And their sales strategy? No annoying dealer markups, no hassle financing. Plus, their cars integrate smoothly with home charging stations, solar setups, and energy storage systems. It’s no wonder so many chargers tend to feature that Tesla logo.
This kind of integration turns their EVs into mobile power stations. The more connections to the battery, the more benefit the car manufacturer can get.
A Bumpy Ride
Hyundai aims to create a similar setup, but it’s just one department in its massive organization. While the scale and resources are there, they’re still working on unified software solutions and energy connectivity. For now, the cars might be fantastic, but the surrounding ecosystem leaves quite a bit to be desired.
When planning my trip, I steered clear of Hyundai’s own route planner and decided to use A Better Routeplanner—owned by Rivian, the company that builds part of its own charging network. Unfortunately, because this tool wasn’t designed specifically for Hyundai and their model is fairly new, it misfired on predicting real-world efficiency. Not to mention, there was no direct integration with the vehicle to update route plans automatically either.
Contrast this with Tesla drivers who don’t even have to think about these nuances. Their system automatically calculates the best routes, understands battery usage, and navigates the Supercharger network, which remains the most consistent charging option across North America.
The Charging Dilemma
Some Hyundai supporters might point out that the 2025 Ioniq 5 made strides by adopting the Tesla-style NACS charging plug. As inviting as that sounds, it didn’t pan out in reality.
Of the first two Superchargers I tried, both couldn’t get charging going. Attempts through the Tesla app and the plug-and-charge system failed. Operating under a network designed for Tesla’s backend systems makes it tricky to troubleshoot third-party issues. After running through Hyundai’s usual fallback steps didn’t solve anything, I ended up at a Rivian charger using yet another adaptor.
On the way back, I tried Hyundai’s own route planner. This led me to a lonely CalTrans charger in the Mojave desert, which had been closed for months and could only charge at a fraction of the car’s maximum speed. The closest functioning charger was 25 miles away, adding to my range anxiety.
Turns out, a well-designed electric vehicle counts for very little if you can’t trust the routing and charging guidance.
Challenges Ahead
High-ranking officials at Hyundai, General Motors, and Ford often stress that they shouldn’t face scrutiny over charging infrastructure, claiming that legacy brands never had to set up gas stations. So why should EV companies suddenly be tasked with building energy networks?
Because the rules have changed. Electric vehicles create new revenue streams and leverage control points that gas cars don’t offer. Car manufacturers don’t *have* to build charging stations, home batteries, and energy systems—but they undoubtedly stand to gain significantly if they do. Electricity will become increasingly central to how we power the economy, and those businesses in charge of managing that power will steer the industry’s future.
Tesla made that investment early on, which came with steep costs. In contrast, many traditional carmakers didn’t jump on board. Some, like Honda, Toyota, and Stellantis, are only beginning to explore these opportunities.
Slow Motion
Among the older auto brands, General Motors appears to be making the most considerable headway. Coverage from U.S. media indicates that GM has developed a robust EV platform, integrated software solutions, dependable Google-based navigation, and has even dipped into home energy products, besides partnering with EVgo and investing in the Ionna charging network while maintaining a strong supply chain.
Other brands, including Mercedes, BMW, Kia, Hyundai, and Stellantis, all have their hands in Ionna or are devising their cooling solutions. Yet none come close to the scale that Tesla offers, and drivers are already feeling the difference.
Tesla could afford to stumble financially thousands of times and still make their model viable. Legacy automakers are wrestling with funding EV transitions while still depending on gas-powered vehicles to maintain their profitability.
Two Worlds Apart
This friction illustrates the fundamental challenge at hand. Companies focused on gasoline vehicles cannot easily pivot to a business where software, energy management, and stable connectivity are king.
It raises the big questions the traditional manufacturers continue to grapple with:
- How can you cut costs while managing systems that still support gasoline vehicles?
- How do you deliver seamless over-the-air updates when many models can’t even handle that?
- How do you successfully market a $50,000 electric vehicle without reliable routing software for cross-country travel?
Perhaps the older brands will manage to find a workaround. They can stick to making “good-enough” EVs while the infrastructure develops and they gather crucial insights. But the longer they wait, the tougher it gets to catch up with a company that envisioned this future over a decade ago.
Sources: Insideevs
