Nissan Leaf lease set to target rivals’ rate in US

It is expected that Nissan will announce pricing of its five-seat hatch by the end of this month, and although early media reports suggest of a figure between ¥3.5 million and ¥4 million (about AUD$42,470 to $48,540), it is now believed the figure could be considerably lower. Japan's Mainichi newspaper suggesting a figure of ¥2.9 million (AUD$36,050) after government-backed EV incentives.

Nissan had originally planned to sell the car and lease the lithium-ion battery, which accounts for most of the vehicle's overall cost, but is now considering a rethink on their strategy in the US market where many customers wish to lease both. Nissan CEO, Mr Carlos Ghosn, says the success of the Leaf will depend largely on its pricing against similarly sized petrol-powered cars.

The Nissan Leaf will hit selected US showrooms in December as the centrepiece of Nissan's plan to become an industry leader in zero-emissions cars.

To read more about the Nissan Leaf EV, click on this link.