With the Nissan Leaf seeing record sales in Europe this year, the Japanese automaker expects to increase sales of the EV by up to 25 percent in 2015.
According to Nissan Europe’s electric cars director Jean-Pierre Diernaz, Leaf sales are likely to rise significantly in the region in 2015. “I think next year we should see double-digit growth again,” he told Automotive News Europe at an event held at Nissan’s car factory in Sunderland, England.
Nissan Leaf sales rose 40 percent to 12,655 units through October, making the Leaf Europe’s top-selling EV, according to data from JATO Dynamics.
Customers are warming up to the Leaf thanks to lower sticker prices and leasing rates compared to 2010 when the model launched in Europe. The average lease rate for the Leaf in Europe has dropped to about €250 a month from €400 in 2010. In France, where the government offers generous incentives, the Leaf can be leased for as low as €169 a month.
Since 2013, when Nissan transferred production of European versions of the Leaf from Japan to the UK, the company has achieved cost savings, which have been passed on to buyers, Diernaz said.
Nissan offers significant discounts in some markets. In the UK, for example, the company offers a Leaf Visia with £3,200 off (€4,066), which drops the price including batteries to £18,290 – a price similar to compact cars such as the VW Golf and Ford Focus.
Despite the lower prices, Diernaz says the Leaf is still profitable for Nissan in Europe.
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