IONNA, an automaker-backed electric vehicle charging and retail operator, has scooped up a former car sales lot on West San Carlos Street in San Jose for $2.45 million. The early April purchase plants the company on a busy corridor just outside downtown and opens the door to dozens of high-speed chargers and new retail that could replace the rows of used cars. City planners have not yet received a detailed site plan, but neighbors and drivers should expect permitting and design work to start surfacing in the weeks and months ahead.
The sale and the site
According to The Mercury News, Santa Clara County recording documents show IONNA paid $2.45 million for the vehicle sales property at the corner of West San Carlos Street and Buena Vista Avenue, with the transaction recorded last Friday. Public records list the parcels as 1555 and 1557 West San Carlos and 45 Buena Vista, and the corner has long served as a spot for vehicle sales and storage. The price tag and compact urban footprint make it a logical candidate for a smaller, amenity-rich Rechargery rather than a sprawling highway-style superhub.
What an IONNA Rechargery includes
According to IONNA, the company builds several Rechargery types, from quick “Relay” pull ins to larger “Beacon” flagships, all pairing fast chargers with amenities such as canopy coverage, restrooms, a drivers lounge and retail or food options. IONNA's technical specs highlight “Genuine Charge Dispensers” that can deliver up to 400 kW and often support two vehicles per unit, and every site is set up with both CCS and NACS plugs to serve a wide range of EV models. The company pitches the Rechargery as more than a simple charger row, aiming to turn charging into a short, useful pause that feels closer to a roadside stop than a bare bones utility lot.
Automaker backing and a California push
IONNA is a joint venture created by BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes Benz, Stellantis and Toyota that began national operations in 2024. In a company release, IONNA said it plans to invest more than $250 million across California over the next three years. “‘IONNA Speed’ isn’t just about how quickly we grow, but also how we deliver,” CEO Seth Cutler said. The company held kickoff ceremonies this spring in San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose and Westminster as it ramps up openings and integration work with automakers and utilities.
What San Jose faces next
Documents on file with San Jose planners do not yet spell out what IONNA will build at the West San Carlos site, The Mercury News reports. That uncertainty leaves open questions about traffic flow, curb access, and the mix of neighborhood retail if the company turns the lot into a Beacon-style Rechargery with 20 or more bays. The detailed work will start once IONNA files a formal site plan and the city posts public notices and engineering drawings for review.
What to watch
Keep an eye on the city's planning portal and the county recorder for an IONNA site application or any newly recorded easements tied to development. If the project advances, the modest car lot on West San Carlos could be transformed into a fast, amenitized stop for EV drivers from across San Jose.
