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Nissan Misses The Point, Offers Would-Be Leaf Owners 2011 Armada

 
3,156 views Oct 4, 2011
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2011 Nissan Leaf

2011 Nissan Leaf

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Imagine this situation: You’re a fan of Nissan’s all-electric 2011 Leaf and you’ve put your name down on the waiting list to get one just as soon as it starts to be delivered in your area.

But instead of getting an email telling you when you can visit your local dealer to finalize your order, you get an email offering you a discount on a new gasoline Nissan because, well, there aren't enough cars to go around and you might be in for a very long wait.

That’s exactly what happened to hundreds of Nissan Leaf fans in Canada after Nissan North America allocated just 40 leafs to Canada for the 2011 model year and a misery 600 for the 2012  model year. 


The problem? Over 15,000 Canadians have expressed an interest in the Leaf so far -- and with the waiting list for the 600, 2012 Leafs opening this month, Nissan just can’t wait for the money from all those delayed Leaf sales  can't bear to see its customers stranded without a new car. 

The solution? Send people on the Leaf waiting list the opportunity to buy a discounted gasoline-powered Nissan, giving up to $5,500 VPP Discount on the 2011 Nissan Armada.

As Autobloggreen’s Eric Loveday points out, that particular Nissan isn’t exactly the most fuel-efficient of vehicles, getting a shockingly un-green 12 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. 

And the discounts offered? That’s mysteriously a little more than the Federal tax rebate offered on electric cars at the present time -- just without any of the benefits of going electric. 

We’re not sure just how many prospective Leaf owners are tempted by the offer, but we’re disappointed that Nissan isn’t addressing the shortage of Leafs allocated to the Canadian market instead. 

Would you buy a gasoline car if it meant that you didn’t have to wait for an electric one? 

Let us know in the Comments below.

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Comments (11)

  1. fb_863240450 avatar Tyler Lipa Posted: 10/4/2011 8:23am PDT

    It's pretty bad how much Nissan underestimated the amount of people would want an Electric car. Now they add insult to injury.
     
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  2. brodyhill avatar Brody Hill Posted: 10/4/2011 9:40am PDT

    Laughable.

    Like a hostess at a Vegan restaurant recommending a steakhouse down the street (owned by the same company of course) because the line is too long.
     
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  3. robok2 avatar robok2 Posted: 10/4/2011 10:30am PDT

    @Tyler, I believe Nissan has clearly not underestimated the demand for the Leaf, as sales and production have been almost exactly as forecast long ago. Nissan has to share the volume with Japan, Europe and N. America, and all this from a very small starting point.
    When 2013 arrives and the Leaf is finally made in Tennessee, we'll see where gas prices are, government incentives are and demand is. If the Republicans dominate the next election, prepare to say "goodbye" to the incentives for the most part.
     
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  4. fb_100000473084758 avatar Joe Tomicki Posted: 10/4/2011 5:47pm PDT

    no way would rather wait 1-2 befor getting another gas POS.
     
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  5. fb_100000473084758 avatar Joe Tomicki Posted: 10/4/2011 5:51pm PDT

    I got tired of waiting for someone to build a real good electric bike so I made my own. looks like I will have to do the same for a car.
     
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  6. ev_enthusiast avatar EV Enthusiast Posted: 10/4/2011 8:44pm PDT

    everyone be patient - all snowflakes start coming down slowly, while they are building up steam.

    nissan simply cant make all the cars themselves. the demand is way greater than the supply.

    but that will change over the course of the next few years.

    coda, ford, and several others should have cars out in the coming year.
     
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  7. sullyfahs avatar fran sullivan-fahs Posted: 10/6/2011 3:11am PDT

    In Florida we drive the Leaf (as I think you do, too). Hold out for Nissan to up production, or, wait for another company's all electric. It is the future.
     
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  8. eporteous avatar Eric P Posted: 10/6/2011 9:13pm PDT

    The R&D engineers over at Nissan did a great job putting the car together and thinking of just about everything (I loved talking to the ones attending the car show) - but when you talk to the regular sales force it doesn't seem like they're nearly as inspired.
     
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  9. Nissan Canada Inc. avatar Nissan Canada Inc. Posted: 10/7/2011 7:54am PDT

    To add some additional context to this article - since July 2010, there has been a tremendous response to the Nissan LEAF with over 16,000 Canadian hand-raisers registered on Nissan.ca/leaf. As Nissan ramps up production of the Nissan LEAF there is more demand for the vehicle than supply, and recognizing some consumers have immediate needs, Nissan wanted to provide them with a thank-you discount if they purchase a Nissan. The Nissan Vehicle Purchase Plan provides up to $5,500 in discounts on the purchase of a new Nissan vehicle (not just the Armada), and there are many exceptionally fuel-efficient vehicles to choose from including the all-new Nissan Versa Sedan which achieves a remarkable 6.0 litres/100 kilometres.
     
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  10. fb_100000351310064 avatar Jim Davis Posted: 1/15/2012 7:54am PST

    Would you rather have them do nothing?
     
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  11. fb_1069056112 avatar Josh Wells Posted: 1/16/2012 11:23am PST

    Those who were put on the waiting list should be thankful. Buying the first year of something would make me nervous about any bugs that need worked out. I'm waiting on the diesel powered titan myself.
     
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