While all eyes are on the electrification of market stars, such as the Citroën C3 and the Peugeot 3008, as well as on the revivals electric cars of the icons that are the Renault 5, 4L and Twingo, we are witnessing a massacre on the side of modern first generation electric cars, in total indifference.
Thus, after the shutdown of the BMW i3 and the planned shutdown of the Renault Zoe, Nissan has suspended European production of its compact electric Leaf in its English factory in Sunderland, Automotive News Europe tells us.
The Nissan Leaf appeared on the market in 2010, a few months after the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, but a little before the Tesla Model S and Renault Zoe. It was then part of the very limited landscape of the electric automobile. Unfortunately, despite a second generation produced from 2018, the Nissan Leaf has evolved too little to maintain an important place in the electric car market.
It is therefore now bowing out, after having sold more than 650,000 units during its two generations, according to the latest figure communicated by Nissan in July 2023. The only electric car sold by Nissan in Europe will therefore now be the large Ariya SUV, which competes with the Tesla Model Y, but suffers from the comparison, notably due to excessively high prices.
A new Leaf in the form of an electric crossover, not before 2025
However, unlike the BMW i3 (with the exception of the i3 sold in China, which is an electric 3 Series) and Renault Zoe, the Nissan Leaf will have the chance to have descendants. More precisely, the chance to see his name stuck to… a crossover.
Thus, the Leaf will not be immediately replaced, but its name will be taken over by an electric crossover, which will not arrive before 2025. It is not yet clear to what extent this new model should move away from the lines of the compact sedan. Given that Nissan is also planning electric versions of its Juke and Qashqai SUVs, we can expect lower and more streamlined lines from this new generation of Leaf. We also already know that it should be inspired by the Chill-Out concept presented in 2021.