Regional market pricing strategy, currency exchange rates, differences in import duty and local taxes plus specification variations are reasons behind the price differences between the European and US market Leaf EVs, Nissan has said.

The automaker on Monday said the new EV would cost under EUR30,000 after incentives in most European markets, including the cost of the battery, almost EUR10,000 more than the US price. Nissan said earlier the LEAF would retail in the United States for US$32,780 and up before a federal tax credit of $7,500 ($25,280; EUR20,500).

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Most European countries will allow various incentives to be taken at the point of purchase, the exception being the Netherlands, and there will also be various benefits during the period of ownership.

“Nissan follows a regional market-based pricing strategy,” a Nissan GB spokeswoman said in an email to just-auto. “Pricing between the regions is never the same and US prices often appear significantly less expensive compared to Europe.”

This was due to cars, in general, being much cheaper in the US than in Europe; lower import duty in the US; lower VAT [sales tax] by about 17-18%; and the strength of the euro compared with the dollar.

Leaf pricing in Japan starts from JPY3,760,000 yen (about EUR30,400, US$40,600) excluding government incentives or JPY2,990,000 yen (EUR24,000, $32,300) including the incentives.

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US pricing, including both car and battery, starts at $32,780 (EUR24,000 euros) excluding incentives and $25,280 (EUR18,760 euros) including incentives.

“In addition to this, the cars in US and Europe, in terms of specification levels, are not identical. The US will introduce a Leaf range and the price announced is ‘starting at’ $32,780. In Europe we will have one equipment-packed model, so you can’t yet compare like-for-like,” the spokeswoman added.

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