There’s a lot of excitement at Nissan over that company’s Leaf vehicle, an all-electric ride that is promising huge “mpg” and eliminating pain at the pump for some American drivers. But questions about actual delivery numbers are dogging new initiatives to roll these cars out to North American roads.
Reports on Monday announced Nissan’s new “Innovation for Endurance” program for the Leaf, which, according to the company’s press release, won “2011 Car of the Year” and delivers “100% electric” performance. Enlisting actor Ryan Reynolds and others, Nissan is hoping to prove with the 2011 Leaf that going all-green is the way to go.
For around $32,000, buyers of the 2011 Nissan Leaf get a car that plugs into the grid instead of drinking from the fuel pump. The Leaf rides on 16 inch wheels, and includes a host of safety features from ABS and brake assist to a tire pressure monitor, a feature which allows drivers to save even more energy by keeping tires properly inflated. There’s also a lot of new audio and style features.
To some new car buyers, the 2011 Nissan Leaf sounds like a great deal, but the Wall Street Journal is reporting that demand for the car may not be as high as estimated last year. A recent WSJ story shows prior numbers at 20,000 units for this year, and with just over 2,000 2011 Nissan Leaf cars sold currently, WSJ says Nissan is revising their estimate to ten to twelve thousand cars. The issue, researchers say, is production delays; there’s also a pricy plug-in system that costs around $2,200 that some are blaming for anemic demand. But the final word on sales for this car will happen after the end of the year. It’s worth keeping an eye on how these all-electric cars sell, even though going to the financing desk at your local dealer may be a little premature. If you’re looking for a 2011 Leaf, start talking to the manufacturer, and get the word on what financing will look like for these vehicles. Meanwhile, you can be talking to different third party lenders to get the best interest rates, etc. to make your eventual deal cheaper.
