Nissan has been a pioneer in selling battery electric vehicles and the automaker plans to expand the Leaf line-up for the 2021 model year, the company says.
Nissan recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the first U.S. delivery of the all-electric Leaf, the vehicle that helped pave the way for EV adoption around the globe. Launching the first mass-market EV in 2010 was a gamble, but Nissan remains committed to EVs, with Leaf sales recently reaching 500,000 globally, according to Nissan officials.
“This milestone is so much bigger than Leaf. It demonstrates that we’ve established a rock-solid foundation for our EVs,” said Aditya Jairaj, Nissan’s director of U.S. electric vehicle marketing and sales strategy.
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“Across all facets of the company, Nissan is steeped in EV experience – and we’re now putting that collective knowledge to use as we look to the next phase of EVs with the launch of the all-new Nissan Ariya,” Jairaj added.
Fortunately, the Leaf’s success – as well as other external forces – have ensured that more EVs will be part of the Japanese automaker’s near-term future. For 2021, the Nissan Leaf is now available in two versions, the Leaf and the extended-range Leaf Plus, according to Nissan representatives.
The Leaf, with a manufacturers-suggested retail price of $31,620, is equipped with a 40-kilowatt lithium-ion battery and 110-kilowatt electric motor that delivers 147 horsepower, 236 foot-pounds of torque and up to 149 miles of range. It is available in two trim levels, S and SV.
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The Leaf Plus features a larger-capacity 62-kWh lithium-ion battery – increasing the range to up to 226 miles. Leaf Plus also features a more powerful 160-kilowatt motor that produces 214 horsepower – an increase of 45% – and 250 foot-pounds of torque. The Leaf Plus is offered in three trim levels – S Plus, SV Plus and SL Plus. The MSRP for the Leaf Plus starts at $38,220.
What would a vehicle with an advance propulsion system be without a bunch of advanced safety technologies, like ProPilot Assist, standard Safety Shield 360 and Nissan Connect services, all of which can be had in the new Leaf. Additionally, each 2021 Leaf features standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Nissan officials said.
The Leaf isn’t the company’s only all-electric model. The 2022 Ariya, Nissan’s first all-electric crossover, featuring an all-new EV platform, is expanding the portfolio. The new model benefits from Nissan’s “Timeless Japanese Futurism” design with a spacious interior with a flat floor and up to 300 miles of range. It is scheduled to arrive at the end of 2021, according to Jairaj.
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Under Nissan’s transformation plan, the automaker plans to sell 1 million electrified vehicles annually by 2023, including EVs and vehicles with e-Power electrified powertrains.
