Nissan expects to sell 10,000 to 12,000 LEAFs in first-year

2011 Nissan LEAF

We never expected the Nissan LEAF, the first mass-produced fully-electric vehicle, to sell in volumes and we’re pretty sure neither did Nissan itself. The automaker estimates that it will sell just half or a little more of the 20,000 units of the LEAF allocated to the United States this year.

According to Al Castignetti, Nissan Division vice president of sales, the first model year likely will see sales of 10,000 to 12,000 units.

Click here for more news on the Nissan LEAF.

Nissan has always been a bit quiet about how many LEAF units it targeted for 2011, but for the past year it said that the U.S. market could receive up to 20,000 units in 2011 and the same in 2012. About 50,000 LEAF units are available globally from Japan a year.

In May 2011, Nissan sold 1,148 units of the LEAF, up from 573 in April.

Click here for our review on the Nissan Leaf.

Refresher: Power for the Nissan LEAF comes from a 107-hp electric-motor that runs on power supplied by lithium-ion cells. On a full-charge, the Nissan LEAF allows for a driving range of 100 miles with a top speed of 90 mph. A full charge takes up to 8 hours on a standard 200V outlet. Buyers can opt for the DC 50kW quick-charger, which recharges the battery up to 80 percent in under 30 minutes. Prices for the 2011 Nissan LEAF will start at $32,780 but with a federal tax-credit prices will come in as low as $25,280, or for a lease payment of $349 a month.

Review: 2011 Nissan LEAF:

Review: 2011 Nissan LEAF Review: 2011 Nissan LEAF Review: 2011 Nissan LEAF Review: 2011 Nissan LEAF

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive news