Nissan LEAF pricing announced for US, Japan

By Matt Brogan | April 01st, 2010

Nissan has today announced pricing for its LEAF electric car for the US and Japan.

Nissan will sell its battery-powered LEAF for a base price of USD$32,780 (AUD$35,750) in the United States. Combined with a federal tax credit of USD$7500 (AUD$8180), the LEAF will become an even more realistic proposition and is even open to further state and local government credits when the order books open on April 20.

In Japan, the LEAF hatchback will go on sale for 3.76 million yen (AUD$44,330) and will also attract government subsidies to cut the cost to consumers. After tax credits, the LEAF is expected to sell for 2.99 million yen (AUD$35,310). Nissan will begin taking orders in Japan from today with initial customer delivers slated for early December.

Nissan aims to sell 6000 examples of its first mass-volume EV by March next year and says that by 2020, it expects 10 per cent of all cars sold globally to be electrically powered.

But some analysts say that figure is optimistic, and are unsure of the LEAF’s future success given the premium price its lithium-ion batteries add over similar sized, petrol-powered rivals, or petrol-electric hybrids. As an example, the Toyota Prius sells for just over 2 million yen (AUD$24,210) in Japan.

The added costs associated with developing and producing EV’s lithium-ion battery pack, which in LEAF’s case is co-developed with NEC, is considered a major stumbling block in the widespread introduction of fully electric vehicles.

Nissan’s five-seat LEAF has a range of approximately 160 kilometres and can be charged overnight via a standard domestic power outlet. The electric motor develops 80kW of power and 280Nm of torque enabling a top speed of 140km/h.

Nissan anticipate that LEAF will be available in Australia from early 2012.

Rick

Our federal and state governments are so addicated to the taxes it milks from the car buying public that I can’t see the same sort of ‘green’ tax credit being applied here.

If, by some weird alignment of the planets, they did manage to apply a tax credit for an EV, expect them to snatch it back via an equalizing tax hit to purchasers of ‘dirty’ cars.
Lazybones

That kind of price could seriously undermine the MIEV. But as we know already what sells in the US for 35K AUD never sells in Australia for anything near that price. So i’m not going to hold my breath.
vid_ghost

a GB Camaro sells for $25kUSD in America and $140kAUD in Australia so i’m guessing the leaf may cost around 70-90k when it hits our shors in 2012… not much to be exted about! money talks in the world and only the super rich can by electric cars!

http://www.lukehimself.net Luke

I may be wrong, but I always gathered the reason why USA independently imported new vehicles (Mustangs, Corvettes, Camaros) were so expensive in Australia was because the cost of RHD converting and compliance. I could be wrong though. The Nissan LEAF being Japanese would not be affected by this, but I’m not saying some of the other reasons for a price hike in Australia will not apply.

Lazybones

I’ve just read that Mitsubishi has chopped a whopping $6700US off the price of the MIEV just on the news of the Leaf pricing. How much fat must they have put in the cost of the MIEV in order to discount the price by that much!!
Shak

I saw this news two days ago, and they said that the Leaf is applicable for up to $12500 in price cuts in some states of the US. LEts just hope that our government sees the potential of these cars and does something to make them more affordable.
Richard

Why, as a tax payer, do I want to subsidise someone else’s car?

If you want to buy an electric car, powered in Oz by dirty powerstations, cough up your own money.
pirakavezok

I applaud Nissan for introducing LEAF-a fully electric car. This is uncharted waters as far road going cars are concerned. I’ve used electric buggies and the batteries degenerate after several months i.e. the ability to hold electric charge reduces. Let’s hope is a way in the right direction.