The Nissan Leaf beat its own sales record with a 33% increase in European sales in 2014 over the previous year, taking more than a quarter of the electric car market with 14,658 sales.

“This year the Nissan Leaf has been joined by an unprecedented number of new entrants into the EV market and has emerged as the leader on a global, US and European basis,” the automaker said in a statement. Last year was the fourth year in a row it topped the zero-emission sales charts in Europe.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

UK sales were 4,051 units, more than doubling the volume sold in 2013 (1,812). The model took 55% of the pure EV market and outsold its nearest competitor by more than 2:1.

European sales and marketing chief Guillaume Cartier said: “We can now see the impact that word of mouth is having on our sales, with 95% of our customers happy to recommend their car to a friend and 50% saying they would never go back to diesel or petrol. This kind of powerful advocacy, combined with an increasing awareness of the massive running cost savings electric car drivers experience, is why our sales continue to grow.

“Data from our CarWings telematics system shows us that Leaf drivers drive 40% more kilometres than the European average for petrol or diesel cars, covering over 16,500 km per year. This data demonstrates that this car is the primary car for many households and that is changing the consumer perception of electric cars.”

Ranking January-December 2014 Volume EV Passenger Car Segment share
Total  Pure EV Passenger Car Volume 56,393 100%
1 Nissan LEAF 14,658 26%
2 Renault Zoe 11,227 20%
3 Tesla Model S 8,734 15%
4 BMW i3 5,804 10%
5 Volkswagen e-Up 5,365 10%
6 Volkswagen e-Golf 3,328 6%

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Auto Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Just Auto Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving automotive industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now