Car manufacturer Nissan has unveiled details of its new Leaf electric vehicle, which is set to be built at its UK factory. The third-generation model will be built at its Sunderland plant by its 6,000-strong team, the Japanese carmaker said.
The new Leaf will be able to travel up to 604 km on a single full charge and will be available for customers to order later this year, Nissan said.
It will be powered by batteries from AESC UK, Nissan’s battery partner, which is based next to the Wearside factory. The site already builds the carmaker’s Juke and Qashqai models. It is the first model to be launched under the company’s new blueprint for electric vehicle production, Nissan’s EV36 Zero project, which aims for sustainability.
Earlier this year, £1bn of investment was secured for a second AESC UK electric car battery plant. The Leaf has sold almost 700,000 units since it was originally released in 2010, making Nissan an EV pioneer. But the Japanese carmaker struggled to maintain that early momentum, only introducing its second fully electric model – the Ariya SUV – in 2022 into a market crowded with high-tech offerings.
Now, as Chief Executive Officer Ivan Espinosa undertakes an ambitious rescue plan to stem the carmaker’s rapidly deteriorating financial position, Nissan is betting a revamp of the Leaf will help it regain its edge. The company doesn’t need a saviour to get back on its feet, according to Espinosa, who has put his focus on slashing jobs and shutting factories to get Nissan back on track.
The third generation of the popular EV has received a major facelift. It is now equipped with flush door handles, a panoramic glass roof and angular headlights. The car will also mark the debut of a new powertrain with a smaller motor, according to the company.
The Leaf has enjoyed enduring popularity in Europe and the region is the model’s biggest market, with sales of 286,200 vehicles since its debut. Nissan has sold 221,300 Leaf cars in North America and 186,200 in Japan over the same period. It is also popular in countries such as Sri Lanka and Thailand.
(BBC, Detroit News)
