Nissan’s inaugural electric SUV, the 2023 Ariya, has surpassed sales of the decade-old LEAF EV just months after its launch in late fall.
Nissan’s Ariya electric SUV outpaced the Leaf in sales for the first time since its launch, a significant milestone in the brand’s electrification efforts.
Nissan, once a trailblazer in the electric vehicle (EV) sector with the introduction of the LEAF in 2010 as the world’s first mass-market EV, has since struggled to regain momentum as the industry has rapidly advanced over the past few years.
After a decade-long wait, Nissan finally unveiled its second-generation electric vehicle. Following the introduction of the Ariya electric SUV in 2020, the model’s launch was repeatedly pushed back, ultimately commencing US sales in late 2022.
Nissan’s highly anticipated Ariya electric SUV has exceeded expectations, outpacing the sales of its iconic LEAF model by a significant margin since its debut.
In the initial quarter of 2023, Nissan reported a notable shift in its electric vehicle (EV) sales, with the Ariya model outselling the long-standing LEAF by a significant margin: 2,860 Ariya units sold versus 2,354 LEAF EVs within the US market during that period. Ariya electric SUV sales totalled 2,335 units, while LEAF sales declined to 1,880 in the second quarter of the year.
The 2023 Nissan Ariya offers an estimated range of up to 304 miles, courtesy of its 87 kWh battery, with a starting price of $43,190.
Despite being a top-selling electric vehicle model globally, Nissan has failed to refresh the LEAF with cutting-edge technology. The Japanese automaker recently unveiled the 2024 Nissan LEAF, which still features the outdated CHAdeMO charging port as an option.
Nissan has expedited the rollout of its “Ambition 2030” strategy, prompted by a growing awareness of the industry’s pressing need for transformation. The company is revamping its electric vehicle strategy with a new plan that targets 19 new EV models worldwide, up from the current 15, in an effort to secure a 40% market share of US electrical automobile gross sales by 2030?
Electrek’s Take
The news that Nissan’s electric SUV is outpacing the LEAF in terms of gross sales is hardly surprising, considering Americans’ penchant for larger vehicles.
By 2022, Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) dominated global auto sales, comprising approximately 46 percent, as reported by the International Energy Agency, with significant growth stemming from the United States.
The sight of a decade-old LEAF outperforming its electric SUV counterpart is truly remarkable. While it’s overdue for an update, it’s no secret that Nissan hasn’t yet revamped its electric compact car. According to the IEA report, there has been a discernible trend in the electric vehicle market, with a significant shift from 63% passenger cars to 37% SUVs in 2020, and subsequently, a more balanced split of 49% passenger cars to 51% SUVs by 2022.
Nissan will not be alone in upsizing its lineup. General Motors may discontinue its smallest electric vehicle, the Bolt EV and EUV, by year-end as it prepares to launch a range of SUVs and vehicles based on its Ultium battery technology, including the Silverado EV, Blazer EV, and Equinox EV; however, the company has hinted at potentially introducing an Ultium-based Bolt model.
