Seeking Global Domination, Nissan Hunts New Markets for the Leaf

by Steph Willems

Published: February 17th, 2018

seeking global domination nissan hunts new markets for the leaf

After becoming something close to a joke over the past couple of years, the once-groundbreaking Nissan Leaf enters 2018 with a new skin, larger battery, and enhanced range. Next year brings an optional battery upgrade, finally giving the five-door EV a range capable of challenging Tesla and General Motors.

Now that it has a competitive vehicle positioned as a value pick in a growing segment, Nissan wants everyone to get a chance to buy one, no matter where they live. It may have shied away from sales targets in the U.S., but Nissan’s not dialing back its global ambitions.

As reported by Wards Auto, Nissan has decided to launch the Leaf in seven new markets this year. The announcement, made at Nissan Futures, a Singapore meeting of industry executives, government officials, and media from the Asia and Oceania region, heralds the Leaf’s status as a truly global product. Buyers in Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand will soon have access to the car.

Japanese customers got first dibs on the new model, which went on sale last October. 2018 Leafs began rolling onto dealer lots in North America last month, and European sees its first second-gen models this month.

While that’s already plenty of exposure, Nissan seems ready to launch the Leaf in any market where the Leaf might prove popular. Market analyst Frost & Sullivan presented research at Nissan Futures showing an average of 37 percent of would-be buyers in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines would consider an electric vehicle for their next car. With the right incentives, Nissan’s Leaf could become their top choice, Frost & Sullivan believes.

The 2018 Leaf’s 40 kWh battery pack gives it a U.S. range of 151 miles. With an entry price of $29,990 before a $885 delivery charge and a $7,500 tax credit, the Leaf undercuts the Bolt and Model 3 by over $5,000, though a longer range model — promised to have over 200 miles of range — will surely narrow that price gap.

[Image: Nissan]

#2018NissanLeaf #ElectricVehicles #EmergingMarkets #EVs #Markets #Nissan #NissanLeaf #Overseas

Steph Willems

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6 of 16 comments

Brandloyalty on Feb 17, 2018

There are lots of Leaf's running around where I live. A lot of them would have been bought used, with no subsidy. This talk of EV Luddites is a corruption of the meaning of "Luddite", and evokes images of nut cases shouting at windmills.

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- Asdf on Feb 18, 2018
  
  The used EVs would have been subsidized when new, which would have affected their sales price as used, so the issue of subsidies is still relevant. The term Luddite is actually strangely fitting in this context, because it's used about people opposed to technological change, and the EV Luddites are ferociously opposed to the radical technological changes that are needed to make EVs a viable proposition, and they deride and ridicule those who have the audacity to point out this obvious fact, whereas normal, sane people would merely nod in agreement.
  
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- Nick_515 on Feb 18, 2018
  
  @Asdf it doesn't fit at all Asdf. Your use of the term is a sad caricature of the historical context in which it was born. Luddites are not 'ferociously opposed' to radical technological changes. They were people who mistook machines, as opposed to the social reorganization of production, as the cause of increasing pauperization of the working class. Instead of confronting said reorganization, they thought they could stop its detrimental effects by attacking machines. They couldn't.
  
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- Brandloyalty on Feb 18, 2018
  
  @Nick_515 I've mentioned before asdf's misuse of the luddite label. His continued misuse is just virtue signalling anyway. Asdf, could you elaborate on "the EV Luddites are ferociously opposed to the radical technological changes that are needed to make EVs a viable proposition,". Because the way I read it that comment makes no sense. As for the price of used Leaf's, if this link works it will show the asking prices for them near where I live. The prices don't seem to have been diminished much by the original $5000 rebate. https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/search/sss?query=nissan%20leaf&sort=rel
  
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- Maymar on Feb 18, 2018
  
  @brandloyalty I strongly doubt any EV advocate would be opposed to 400+ mile ranges and 5 minute charging times, but our refusal to froth with outrage that they aren't available now apparently means we hate the idea, I guess.
  
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Healthy skeptic on Feb 18, 2018

I never thought I'd say this, but this car makes the first gen version look quite attractive. Actually, the first gen version had a kind of funky charm to it. Every time I see this car, I want to "close" the hood.

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