Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • New Product
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
    • Munich Auto Show
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
  • Features
    • Long Read
    • Interview of the Month
    • Focus on Electrification
    • Focus on Technology
    • Segment Analysis
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Europe By The Numbers
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
  • Podcasts
  • Car Cutaways
  • EVENTS
    • ANE Congress
    • ANE Rising Stars
    • ANE Eurostars
    • Browse photos from the 2021 awards ceremony
  • More
    • Publishing Partners
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
    • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
    • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
    • TUV Rheinland: Battery testing center for large battery packs and more
    • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
    • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
    • Toyota Europe
    • UFI Filters
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automotive News Europe
February 16, 2011 12:00 AM

Nissan on track to build 250,000 Leafs a year

Early production constraints will fade as U.S., Europe production comes online

Joaquim Oliveira
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    The first regular shipment of Nissan Leafs for European customers arrived in northeast England from Japan on Feb. 3.

    CACIA, Portugal -- The Renault-Nissan alliance is on track to produce 250,000 Leaf electric cars by early 2013 -- enough volume to satisfy likely demand in Asia, North America and Europe, a top Nissan executive says.

    Pierre Loing, Nissan Europe's vice president in charge of product planning and strategy, said early production constraints will fade as plants in North America and Europe launch output.

    Currently, all Nissan Leaf EVs are built in Japan. Nissan will add production of the Leaf at Smyrna, Tennessee, USA, in late 2012 and at Sunderland, England, in early 2013.

    “As of early 2013, we expect to satisfy European demand with European supply and U.S. demand with U.S. supply,” he said.

    Loing made his comments during a groundbreaking ceremony in Cacia, northern Portugal, where Nissan and Renault are spending 156 million euros ($211 million) to build a second European battery plant.

    The Portuguese factory will open in December 2012, and will produce up to 50,000 batteries a year. Most of those batteries will be used in the Renault Fluence EV, which will be built in Bursa, Turkey.

    Loing told Automotive News Europe that customers have ordered 20,000 Leafs in the United States, 6,000 in Japan and 1,500 in Portugal, Ireland, England and Switzerland.

    Nissan and Renault are investing a combined 4 billion euros to develop EVs and batteries.

    According to the alliance's production plans:

    • Sunderland will produce 60,000 batteries and 50,000 Leafs

    • The Cacia plant will produce 50,000 batteries a year

    • A factory in Flins, France, will produce 100,000 batteries annually

    • Smyrna will produce up to 200,000 batteries and 150,000 Leafs a year

    • Nissan's Oppama plant in Japan will produce 50,000 battery packs and 50,000 Leafs annually

    • The Zama plant in Japan will produce 50,000 battery packs annually.

    Nissan does not intend to lease the Leaf's battery packs to consumers, Carlos Tavares, Nissan executive vice president, told ANE at the Cacia plant groundbreaking ceremony.

    Studies done by Nissan showed prospective customers were not comfortable with the idea of not owning an important part of the car, Tavares, a Portuguese native, said.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Hyundai marketing VP Andreas-Christoph Hofmann to speak at Automotive News Europe Congress
    Recommended for You
    Andreas-Christoph Hofmann 2021 Eurostars
    Hyundai marketing VP Andreas-Christoph Hofmann to speak at Automotive News Europe Congress
    Monica Perez Lobo Toyota 2022
    Toyota Europe ESG director Monica Perez Lobo to speak at Automotive News Europe Congress
    Philippe Houchois, managing director of Jefferies Group
    Jefferies analyst Philippe Houchois to speak at Automotive News Europe Congress
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2022. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • New Product
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • On The Move
      • Auto Shows
        • Munich Auto Show
        • Geneva Auto Show
        • Paris Auto Show
        • Beijing Auto Show
        • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Features
      • Long Read
      • Interview of the Month
      • Focus on Electrification
      • Focus on Technology
      • Segment Analysis
      • Cars & Concepts
      • Supplier Spotlight
      • Europe By The Numbers
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Podcasts
    • Car Cutaways
    • EVENTS
      • ANE Congress
      • ANE Rising Stars
      • ANE Eurostars
        • Browse photos from the 2021 awards ceremony
    • More
      • Publishing Partners
        • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
        • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
        • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
        • TUV Rheinland: Battery testing center for large battery packs and more
        • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
        • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
        • Toyota Europe
        • UFI Filters
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • About Us