14 DAY TRIAL // Japanese automotive manufacturer Nissan has one very good reason to be happy these days. Long story short, recent reports show that, in the year 2013, the company sold a record number of LEAFs to people living in Europe.
Besides, it would appear that, in said year, the Nissan LEAF was the best-selling electric vehicle in this part of the world, hence it's currently accounting for as much as 33% of Europeans' passenger car market.
In a press release on the matter at hand, the Japanese automotive manufacturer details that in 2013 a total of 11,120 LEAFs were sold in Europe. When compared to the year 2012, this figure represents a 204% increase, Nissan goes on to explain.
What's more, when the sales for Europe's second favorite electric vehicle are taken into consideration, the number of Nissan LEAFs that found European owners in 2013 is roughly 25% greater.
“Nissan today announced that sales of the world's best-selling electric vehicle (EV), the 100 percent electric Nissan LEAF, recorded its best year yet selling 25 percent more units in 2013 than the next best seller in Europe,” the press release reads.
Furthermore, “Now commanding 33 percent of the EV passenger car market in Europe, the Nissan LEAF sold more than 5,600 more units in 2013 versus 2012, cementing its position as the world's best-selling 100 percent electric vehicle.”
By the looks of it, the Nissan LEAF ended up being Europe's best-selling electric vehicle in 2013 especially due to Norway's efforts to promote the use of such environmentally-friendly cars.
As the Japanese car maker explains, it was thanks to electric vehicle infrastructure and government incentives in this country that, at the end of January 2014, the Nissan LEAFs was Norway's best selling environmentally friendly car.
“Sales of the Nissan LEAF in Norway were up 145 percent in January compared to January 2013. The rest of Europe isn't far behind. In 2013, the Nissan LEAF was the EV market leader in many other countries including Spain, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, and the United Kingdom,” the company explains.
On a global scale, Nissan has until now sold over 100,000 LEAFs. Of the people who purchased these vehicles, 92% are said to be new to the brand.