The IONNA EV charging network has grown to 36 states, with the company continuing to build out of its Durham County global headquarters.
IONNA was founded by seven automotive manufacturers: BMW Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis. The company set up in Durham County outside Research Triangle Park after Governor Roy Cooper announced in June 2024 that it would invest $10 million to establish its headquarters here and create 203 jobs between 2025 and 2029.
The Durham facility houses corporate operations and a customer experience lab for research and development of software and hardware tied to a planned network of more than 30,000 EV charging points across North America. Average annual pay for the new positions is projected at $128,457, well above Durham County's average wage of $90,727, and the jobs are expected to generate more than $20 million in annual payroll impact for the region.
The state backed the project with a 12-year Job Development Investment Grant worth up to $3,075,000 if IONNA meets its hiring and investment targets, plus an additional $800,000 in workforce training funds, including $400,000 directed to Durham Tech. State officials projected the project will grow North Carolina's economy by $724 million over the grant's life, a return of $2.08 for every dollar of potential state cost. Durham County added $170,000 in local incentives.
Durham Tech President J.B. Buxton said the training funds can support internships, apprenticeships, and skills development. Jerry Jones, who leads workforce development at the college, said the program is shaped around what employers need. "We talk to the organization and they give us the criteria," Jones said. "Then we can develop a program toward that."
IONNA is not Durham's only EV charging bet. Kempower, a Finnish company that pledged more than 300 jobs at a Durham facility in February 2022, shipped its first charging station from that factory last year. CEO Seth Cutler said IONNA also plans to open seven satellite labs around the country, with locations not yet disclosed.