The highly anticipated Nissan Leaf is now available to order for UK customers. The ‘world’s first mass-produced electric car’ opened for pre-orders yesterday to UK customers, ahead of deliveries set to start in March next year.
The first UK buyers or ‘motoring pioneers’ as Nissan calls them, will then get an opportunity to test-drive their prospective purchase by the end of this year, at which point they will need to formally confirm their order. A dedicated call centre has also been set up to assist customers with questions.
The LEAF will be priced at £23,990, taking into account the £5,000 Government incentive for electric vehicle buyers and the recently announced 20% VAT rate, both to be introduced from January. The price includes the battery.
Paul Willcox, Managing Director of Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd, said: “The LEAF is a milestone in Nissan’s history. Launching in Japan and the US in the coming weeks and UK, Portugal & Ireland early next year, Nissan is the first manufacturer to bring credible and affordable electric vehicle motoring to the mass market.”
Willcox goes on to explain: “The LEAF is generating huge interest across the world, with more than 25,000 customers already putting down deposits in the US and Japan. We know that the benefits of electric mobility have struck a chord with motorists in the UK and initial interest across retail and fleet channels could result in demand outstripping initial supply.”
Although the purchase price is not cheap, the Japanese carmaker says that the car’s running costs could help its first UK customers save in the long term. Depending on an individual’s electricity tariff and time of charging, it will be possible to run the LEAF for less than 2 pence per mile. Additional financial benefits include reduced servicing costs, exemption from London’s congestion charge, zero vehicle tax and zero benefit in kind for company car drivers.
Available in five exterior colours and one high-specification trim level, all models will come with air conditioning, satellite navigation and a parking camera as standard, plus smartphone connectivity that enables owners to check charging levels plus heat or cool the interior of the car remotely via their handset.
The car’s AC motor develops 80 kW of power and 280 Nm of torque, enough for a maximum speed of more than 90mph and it can travel up to 100 miles on a full charge.
Car buyers can register their interest at www.nissan.co.uk/leafreservation, by completing an online form and putting down a refundable £257 deposit.
