Nissan Sells Out Preorders Of New Leaf Globally

By David Parsons

David Parsons

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2011 Nissan Leaf

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Nissan has a happy problem. It has been inundated with pre-orders for the Leaf since it introduced a refundable deposit program in the U.S. and Japan. There have been 13,000 reservations for the Nissan Leaf in the U.S. and 6,000 reservations in Japan. The Leaf sold out in 35 days.

“We think there is a big future for this car. I can tell you that the production for 2010 is already sold out,” Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said. The 13,000 reservations in the U.S. represent the entire allotment of vehicles scheduled for the U.S.

Nissan's all-electric Leaf could cost customers as little as $25,280, after the federal government tax credit. Additional state tax credits might also apply for some buyers, further cutting its price. That makes the Leaf surprisingly affordable, given its technological prowess. Nissan started taking orders on April 20th, which required a $99 reservation fee. The vehicles will be available in December, produced in a Japanese factory at first. Later, Leafs will be produced in the U.S. starting in 2012, and in the UK in 2013. The Leaf battery plant recently broke ground near the existing Nissan assembly complex in Smyrna, Tennessee.

Thirteen thousand might not sound like a lot of vehicles, but there are many Americans eager to purchase a car with zero tailpipe emissions. Of course, the power plants that produce the electricity used to power the cars will likely produce emissions, but the Leaf will  require no gas. The only downside, if you can call it that, is that you can only drive 100 miles without recharging at home, or at a  charging station equipped with an electric outlet designed for the vehicle. But that must not bother the eager consumers who rushed to be the first in line to own the car. Numerous recent surveys have shown that the majority of drivers only really need a range of 40-60 miles for most of their daily needs.

[USAToday]