Nissan announces the end of an era with the discontinuation of its pioneering electric vehicle. Although Nissan is discontinuing production of the LEAF electric vehicle, the company has announced plans to launch its successor in 2026.
Nissan plots next moves for electric Leaf successor?
The Nissan LEAF was once the best-selling electric vehicle on the market. After its launch in 2010, the Nissan LEAF quickly gained popularity as the first mass-market electric vehicle (EV) in the US, beating Tesla Model S to market by 18 months, thanks to its roomy interior, respectable range, and competitive pricing.
Over the past decade, almost every automaker – from fledgling startups to venerable legacy brands – has unveiled its own electric vehicles (EVs) boasting advanced features, sleeker designs, and increasingly extended ranges.
The Nissan LEAF’s struggling sales performance has been plagued by a persistent decline in floor demand over the past few years. According to a report from last year, Nissan has no plans to launch a next-generation LEAF model.
As a replacement for the aging LEAF, Nissan is developing a cutting-edge electric vehicle tailored to meet the demands of modern consumers. Although Nissan introduced its second mass-market electric vehicle, the Ariya, this was not a deliberate attempt to offer an alternative.
If Nissan is considering replacing the LEAF with a coupe-like crossover, it may be inspired by the “Chill-Out” concept unveiled in 2021, which featured a modern and trendy design. The manufacturing model would likely appear far more conventional.
While executives were divided on whether to continue using the LEAF name. According to Ed Kim, President of AutoPacific, “The Nissan LEAF currently holds limited significance for electric vehicle (EV) buyers.”
Nissan has announced that its LEAF successor will begin production in 2026, according to a recent report from a leading authority. In a submission to the UK authorities committee on battery manufacturing, Nissan revealed its plans to start manufacturing the new LEAF model at its Sunderland facility in the UK, as part of its strategy to make nearly all of its output electric vehicles (EVs) by 2028.
Nissan allegedly leverages production from its forthcoming nearby battery manufacturing plant, a collaborative effort with Envision AESC.
By 2024, the plant’s potential capacity is expected to reach 11 gigawatt-hours (GWh), potentially growing to a total of 30 GWh, as outlined in Nissan’s proposal. According to reports, the forthcoming Leaf model is expected to feature “Gen 5” battery cells that will notably increase power density by 30% compared to its current iteration.
The reported successor to the LEAF is expected to be primarily built upon the CMF-EV platform shared by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, a technology also employed in the Nissan Ariya.
Electrek’s Take
The latest rumors suggest that Nissan’s forthcoming LEAF successor will indeed adopt a more substantial footprint. As the popularity of electric vehicle crossovers and SUVs surges, manufacturers are hastily introducing increasingly large-scale EV models, often prioritizing size over efficiency.
General Motors may be discontinuing its entry-level electric vehicles, the Bolt EV and EUV, in a move that could have significant implications for the market and its customers. As General Motors and Nissan phase out their entry-level electric vehicle offerings due to various reasons – including GM’s transition to an all-Ultium-powered lineup – the market will be left with a conspicuous void in affordable, compact EV options.
As the world shifts towards eco-friendliness, the prospect of Nissan increasing the LEAF’s size is bound to raise concerns about the environmental implications of this move.
