Leaf remains a hobby at Nissan since the Number Two Japanese automaker sold more than 4.9 million vehicles and generated revenue of ¥9.6 trillion yen ($116.2 billion) in the Japanese fiscal year of 2012.
With two months remaining, the Nissan Leaf broke the record for the most U.S. electric vehicle sales in a calendar year, surpassing the previous record of 22,610 that it set in 2013. Through September, the dedicated EV is up 36% compared to the same period last year.
With more than 142,000 Leaf sales globally since launch, more than 64,000 of those in the U.S. where taxpayers are subsidizing the car, Nissan is the global leader in electric vehicles.
Nonetheless, Leaf remains a hobby at Nissan since the Number Two Japanese automaker sold more than 4.9 million vehicles and generated revenue of ¥9.6 trillion yen ($116.2 billion) in the Japanese fiscal year of 2012.
With seating for up to five (skinny)passengers, the Leaf has an EPA-estimated driving range of 84 miles on a fully-charged battery and MPGe ratings of 126 city, 101 highway and 114 combined. The ratings are based on the EPA formula of 33.7 kW/hour equal to one gallon of gasoline energy.
The starting price of a Nissan LEAF is about $22,000 – well, after the maximum $7,500 federal tax credit – with a MSRP of $29,010, plus shipping. Nissan claims the Leaf offers lower running costs and less scheduled maintenance than conventional vehicles.
“We continue to deliver electric cars to more new buyers than anyone else,” says Brendon Jones of Nissan.
For comparison, GM has delivered 15,450 Chevrolet Volts and 885 Cadillac ELR hybrids year-to-date. No company is getting rich here.
