- Nissan said it will build the Leaf electric car in the U.K. beginning in early 2013.
- The Leaf will also be built in Oppama, Japan and Smyrna, Tennessee.
- Nissan intends to build up to 500,000 EVs a year by 2013.
SUNDERLAND, England — Nissan said it will build the Leaf electric car at its U.K. manufacturing plant here, beginning in early 2013. The Sunderland facility will be one of three Nissan global EV manufacturing hubs, with an initial annual production capacity of 50,000 units.
Nissan plans to invest nearly $650 million in the Sunderland facility, which will also manufacture lithium-ion batteries for the Leaf.
The five-passenger Leaf hatchback goes into production later this year at Nissan's Oppama plant in Japan, with sales to begin before year-end in Japan, the U.S. and selected European markets. Nissan will add Leaf production to its Smyrna plant in the U.S. in 2012, when the car will be mass-marketed around the world.
Nissan and its corporate parent Renault have committed to build up to 500,000 EVs a year by 2013.
Inside Line says: A rumored sticker price of nearly $40,000 on the Leaf could make it a bit more difficult to reach that lofty production target. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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shahulx says:
12:52 PM, 03/18/2010
yea, I thought it would be in the low $20's and then you'd have to lease that bettery on top...is $40 including battery?
neofaliro says:
08:52 AM, 03/18/2010
This could be a Volt killer. I hope the $40k price is not true, but if it goes to $20k range it could be the Prius killer. I know I would buy it.