Nissan turns over a new Leaf

SINGAPORE – The phrase “turning over a new leaf” means to start to behave in a better and more acceptable way. Well Nissan, as an automaker, has started behaving much better, environmentally speaking, since 2010.

That was the year it introduced to the world the Leaf pure electric vehicle—“pure” because it runs purely on electric power (unlike hybrids that use a combination of petrol and electric power).   

The Leaf was an instant success on the global market, and has since become the bestselling electric vehicle on the planet by a huge margin—despite Tesla getting an inordinate amount of press.

Last year, Nissan rolled out the all-new second-generation Leaf and has recently announced that it will go on sale in seven markets in Asia and Oceania, specifically in Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. Nissan is also exploring introducing the zero-emission car in other markets in the region, including Indonesia and the Philippines.

Nissan Regional Senior Vice President Yutaka Sanada said the company is working to bring the new Leaf to as many markets as possible. The car has become the icon of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the company’s approach to moving people to a better world by changing how cars are powered, driven and integrated into society.

“The new Nissan LEAF is the most advanced, yet accessible 100-percent electric vehicle on the planet,” Sanada said. ”This ingenuous car will make you feel more confident, more excited, more connected than any other mainstream electric vehicle. The launch in so many markets shows our commitment to playing a leading role in electrification in this dynamic region, and to delivering the future of mobility to the region now.”

Nissan is studying demand in Indonesia and the Philippines ahead of the new Leaf’s next launch phase, Sanada added. Philippine journalists peppered the executives and panelists with questions on when and how the pioneering EV will be introduced in the country. Bottomline? It depends on government regulations and infrastructure support (specifically the timeline when various government agencies can finalize legislation and for both public and private sectors to launch and sustain information and infrastructure support) to enable the seamless and trouble-free operation and maintenance of these vehicles.    

The announcement was made last week at Nissan Futures, a gathering held at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore of industry leaders, government officials and media from across Asia and Oceania. The three-day event brought together influential speakers to discuss how to create a sustainable future through vehicle electrification, and how to make advanced driving technologies more accessible, under the theme “The Future of Mobility – Electrification and Beyond.”

Strong underlying demand suggests that the market for electric vehicles has the potential to grow exponentially in Southeast Asia, according to research released by Frost & Sullivan today at Nissan Futures.

Nissan has sold more than 300,000 Leafs (Leaves?) globally since the model rolled out eight years ago. The company introduced an all-new Leaf in September 2017, with a suite of advanced technologies that showcase Nissan ingenuity, including the e-Pedal system for one-pedal driving, which allows for golf cart-like operation. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and the Leaf will decelerate by itself, without you having to step on the brake pedal—just like in a golf cart.  

The new Leaf also features increased power and range, and improved refinement, comfort and convenience. The car’s new electric powertrain delivers 110kW of output and 320Nm of torque, improving acceleration and driver enjoyment.

Deliveries of the new Leaf began in Japan in October 2017, followed by the U.S. and Canada in January. The car goes on sale in Europe this month. It will eventually be available in more than 60 markets worldwide.