Nissan LEAF Became European Best-Selling Electric Vehicle (EV) in 2013
The Nissan LEAF helped prove that Europeans in their cities love electric vehicles. Best part is that they want EVs that are beyond experiments. That’s as well as those prototypes and niche fleets.
By 2013, the all-electric Nissan LEAF had become Europeans best-selling electric passenger EV vehicle. That achievement marked an important moment for the Nissan Leaf and the emerging EV industry.
Nissan sold 11,120 LEAF electric cars across European countries during 2013. That EV represented a major increase from the previous year. Moreover, the LEAF captured roughly one-third of the European EV market at the time.
For an industry still trying to convince drivers that battery-electric transportation could work every day, those numbers mattered.
Norway Became an Early Nissan LEAF European EV Stronghold
Norway played a major role in the LEAF’s European success.
During 2013, Nissan sold 4,604 LEAFs in Norway alone. Remarkably, the electric hatchback became the country’s third-best-selling passenger vehicle behind the Volkswagen Golf and Toyota Auris.
Then the momentum continued.
In January 2014, the Nissan LEAF became Norway’s best-selling automobile for the month.
Think about that for a moment.
An electric car was no longer simply competing against other EVs. It was competing against every gasoline and diesel vehicle on the market.
That represented a major change in consumer behavior.
Nissan LEAF Sales Expanded Across Europe
Norway wasn’t alone.
The Nissan LEAF also led the electric-vehicle market in several other European countries during 2013. Those inviting the EV were including the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Belgium.
Meanwhile, Nissan and European governments were expanding incentives, EV charging infrastructure and policies designed to reduce transportation emissions.
Consumers were also beginning to understand another important advantage of electric vehicles: operating costs.
Electric motors require fewer moving parts than internal-combustion engines. EV owners can eliminate gasoline purchases while also avoiding routine services such as oil changes.
Therefore, the economics of electric driving started becoming part of the conversation alongside environmental benefits.
The Nissan LEAF Helped Bring EVs Into the Mainstream
Nissan introduced the original LEAF in Japan and North America in December 2010.
At the time, the idea of a mass-market electric car still seemed radical to many drivers.
However, Nissan pushed ahead.
The company expanded LEAF availability into Europe and other international markets. By September 2013, Nissan reported approximately 83,000 cumulative global LEAF sales.
Then another major milestone arrived.
By January 2014, Nissan had sold its 100,000th LEAF globally.
That achievement helped establish the LEAF as the world’s leading mass-market electric vehicle during the early years of the modern EV revolution.
Electric Fleets Also Started Paying Attention
Private consumers weren’t the only customers interested in the LEAF.
Public agencies and emergency services across Europe also began experimenting with electric vehicles.
Police, medical teams and other public-service organizations used Nissan LEAFs for urban transportation. Lower fuel costs and zero tailpipe emissions made EVs particularly attractive for vehicles operating frequently within cities.
That fleet adoption was important.
Large organizations often evaluate vehicles differently from individual buyers. They examine fuel costs, maintenance expenses and total cost of ownership across thousands of miles.
Electric vehicles were beginning to show they could compete on those numbers too.
From Early EV Pioneer to Nearly 700,000 LEAF Sales
More than a decade later, the significance of those early LEAF sales becomes even clearer.
Nissan says nearly 700,000 LEAF electric vehicles have been sold globally since the model debuted in 2010.
The company has also developed a third-generation LEAF using lessons learned from millions of miles of real-world electric driving.
The EV market itself has changed dramatically.
Tesla expanded rapidly. Hyundai and Kia developed dedicated EV platforms. Volkswagen entered the market aggressively. Ford introduced electric trucks and crossovers. Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers transformed the global battery and electric-vehicle industries.
Yet the Nissan LEAF deserves recognition as one of the vehicles that helped open the door.
The Green Living Guy Take
The 2013 European sales numbers may look small compared with today’s EV market.
However, that’s exactly why this story matters.
More than a decade ago, selling 11,120 electric cars in Europe represented real progress. Moreover, seeing an EV become one of Norway’s most popular automobiles showed what could happen when charging infrastructure, policy and consumer demand worked together.
The Nissan LEAF helped turn the electric vehicle from an idea into something people could actually park in their driveway.
Today, electric vehicles are available as sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, luxury vehicles, delivery vans and performance cars.
That transition didn’t happen overnight.
Cars like the Nissan LEAF helped start it.
Sources:
- Nissan Global — Nissan LEAF Sales Surpass 30,000 in Japan
https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/131008-01-e
Nissan reported 83,000 cumulative global LEAF sales by the end of September 2013 and confirms sales began in December 2010. - Nissan Global — Remarks from CEO Carlos Ghosn and Hiroto Saikawa
https://global.nissannews.com/ja-JP/releases/remarks-from-ceo-carlos-ghosn-and-chief-competitive-officer-hiroto-saikawa-from-the-115th-annual-general-shareholders-meeting
Nissan confirms that LEAF sales passed the cumulative 100,000 mark in January 2014 and that European LEAF sales grew strongly during fiscal 2013. - Nissan Global — Nissan LEAF to the Rescue
https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/130902-03-e
This Nissan release documents growing European LEAF adoption in 2013, including use in the UK, France, Portugal and Switzerland. It also notes that the 10,000th European LEAF had already been delivered by June 2013. - Nissan Global — Third-Generation Nissan LEAF
https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/leaf-insights-design
For historical context, Nissan now says the LEAF has reached close to 700,000 global sales since its 2010 debut.
