Nissan Motor is set to launch its all-new battery-powered flagship, the Leaf, in Japan this month, with hopes that the model’s transformation into a compact crossover vehicle, its significantly enhanced driving range and shorter charging times will help stimulate demand in its domestic market.
The third-generation of the Leaf is scheduled to go on sale next week, ahead of the Japan Mobility Show 2025 - formerly the Tokyo Motor Show - which begins on 30th October. It is reported to have a 700 km range on a single charge, 50% longer than its predecessor, and its batteries can be charged from 10% to 80% in 35 minutes using a 150 kW fast charger.
Prices start at JPY 5.19 million (US$34,150), slightly lower than its predecessor’s JPY 5.25 million price tag. A cheaper variant, with a shorter driving range, is expected to be launched in February.
Nissan recently confirmed that the new Leaf will in future not be exported from Japan to the US, following the recent US import duty hikes, putting pressure on the company to maximise sales in the Asia-Pacific region. The US market will instead be supplied from its plant in the UK, which has negotiated more favourable trading terms with the US, from the fourth quarter of 2025.
Battery electric vehicles are estimated to account for around 2% of new vehicle sales in Japan, where hybrid models are much more popular. Overseas brands including Tesla, China's BYD and South Korea's Hyundai Motor have also recently established BEV sales operations in the country.
Keiji Endo at Nissan’s New Product Planning Division recently told reporters that his company “welcomes more players in Japan’s BEV market, as it will help stimulate consumer interest.”
Nissan’s chief marketing manager, Akira Teranishi, said in a statement: “We hope the enhanced battery performance and shorter charging times will attract customers in Japan.”
