IONNA plans to begin training staff at a few hundred U.S. dealerships in the first quarter of 2027, according to an October 6, 2026 report by CNCB News, which republishes Business Insider reporting. The initiative is intended to help sales teams explain EV charging and answer buyer questions; it has not yet started, and no results have been reported.
What IONNA plans to teach—and why
IONNA CEO Seth Cutler told Business Insider that the company is preparing a dealer-education program focused on EV charging. The goal is to help sales staff explain how customers can charge reliably, especially in urban areas and on highways, and to address a knowledge barrier that may complicate EV shopping. That is IONNA’s stated rationale, not evidence that the planned training will increase sales.
The initiative is one part of IONNA’s wider effort to support EV adoption. Cutler described the company’s ambition this way: “I tell people, if at the end of this decade, we haven’t helped move the needle along on EV adoption, then Ionna’s failed,” according to the report.
When the training is expected to start, and where
The reported rollout is expected to begin in Q1 2027. The initial target cities are Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Dallas, San Francisco, San Jose, and Raleigh. The report describes a few hundred dealership locations, but does not give a final participating-store count.
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Which dealerships are targeted
IONNA plans to focus on dealerships selling vehicles from its eight founding automaker investors: Toyota, Honda, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis. This describes the reported target group, not a published list of participating dealerships.
IONNA was founded in 2023 by those eight automakers, according to Axios. Rivian became a partner in 2025, but it was not among the founding automakers named for this dealer-training target. Axios also reported IONNA’s goal of building 30,000 high-speed charging bays across the United States by 2030.
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What is known about the program so far
The announcement establishes the planned timing, broad target audience, and charging-education rationale. It does not provide a full curriculum, name participating dealerships, or report measured outcomes. IONNA’s station counts in the October 6, 2026 report are dated figures rather than current totals: it said active U.S. stations rose from 90 in January to 191 at the start of October, and Cutler expected the 200th location to open that month.
Dealer EV training already exists
IONNA is entering a field with existing dealer-training programs. The examples below show precedent; the cited sources do not identify Plug In America, Chevrolet, or Assurant as IONNA partners.
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- COMPATIBLE WITH ALL J1772 EVs – Works seamlessly with all electric vehicles using a J1772 charging port. Tesla vehicles are supported with a compatible NACS adapter
- HARDWIRED 48A POWER FOR MAXIMUM SPEED – Designed for a 240V hardwired installation delivering up to 48A continuous output. Requires professional installation. Ideal for fastest possible Level 2 home charging
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| Program | Training and delivery | Audience and credentials | Reported outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plug In America’s PlugStar | EV fundamentals, charging basics, national and local incentives, utility rates and programs, and sales best practices; available in person and on demand online. | Dealer sales staff; includes dealer certification and ongoing support. | Plug In America reports that PlugStar-trained sales staff sell four times as many EVs as untrained staff, and that PlugStar dealers average 4.6 out of 5 stars in customer satisfaction versus 3.5 for other dealers. The page, accessed October 7, 2026, does not display a publication year for these figures. They are provider-reported comparisons and do not establish that training alone caused the differences. |
| Chevrolet Experience | In-person training covering battery range, vehicle value, charging infrastructure, EV myths, and hands-on driving in Chevrolet and competitor EVs. | Chevrolet said its 2024 program targeted more than 7,000 dealership employees across five major U.S. cities. | General Motors/Chevrolet reported an average 48-percentage-point increase in salesperson confidence discussing EVs after the program. This is the manufacturer’s account of its own training, not an independent evaluation. |
| Assurant EV Sales Training | Course intended to help dealer sales teams respond to common EV buyer questions and objections; the cited page does not specify a delivery format. | Dealer sales teams; certification and ongoing support are not stated on the cited page. | Not stated on the cited page. |
Chevrolet’s description of The Chevrolet Experience appeared on December 5, 2024. Its hands-on format and broad subject matter illustrate how an automaker has approached dealer education, but do not establish what IONNA’s curriculum will contain.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the plan could mean for EV shoppers
For buyers, the practical promise is more informed answers about where and how to charge—not a guarantee that every salesperson at a targeted dealership will be trained or that a particular EV will fit a shopper’s needs. The value of the program will depend on the final curriculum, which stores participate, and whether staff can translate charging explanations into advice suited to a customer’s routes and circumstances.
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