End of the Road: Nissan Leaf Production to Cease in the UK
End of the Road: Nissan Leaf Production to Cease in the UK
What does the end of Leaf production in the UK mean for the future of electric vehicles in Australia?
The electric Nissan Leaf hatchback will no longer be produced in the UK, with the current model’s production ending this month. This development raises questions about the availability of electric vehicles in Australia.
The electric Nissan Leaf hatchback, a pioneering vehicle in the EV space, will no longer be produced in the UK. The current model’s production is set to end at Nissan’s Sunderland plant this month, according to reports from Autocar. This news has implications for the availability of electric vehicles in Australia.
Nissan Australia currently sources its Leafs from the Sunderland plant, rather than from Japan or the US where the vehicle is also manufactured. However, if Nissan Australia is unable to secure the Leaf from the other factories that produce it, the brand will be left without an electric vehicle option in the country.
Not only will the production of the current Leaf model cease, but the Sunderland plant will also undergo retooling. This retooling will enable the plant to produce not only the replacement for the Leaf, which is expected to be revealed later this year and go into production in 2026, but also electric replacements for the Juke and Qashqai.
Nissan’s future plans in the UK are focused on electric vehicles. The company aims to sell only EVs in the UK from 2030 onwards, aligning with its commitment to sustainability and electrification. The statement from Nissan UK acknowledges that the current generation of the Leaf is nearing the end of its life cycle in Europe, and customers will be able to place orders until stocks run out.
In Australia, the Nissan Leaf has faced tough competition from both flashier and more affordable electric vehicles. The Leaf sold just 484 units last year, making it the 24th best-selling EV in the country. It ranked significantly lower than other models in its size and price range, such as the Hyundai Kona Electric, Cupra Born, MG 4, and Tesla Model 3.
- Production of the Nissan Leaf will cease at Nissan’s Sunderland plant
- Australian-market Leafs are sourced from this plant
- Nissan Australia may be left without an EV option
- The launch of the Ariya crossover in Australia is uncertain
- The Sunderland plant will be retooled for new electric models
The end of Leaf production in the UK raises concerns about the availability of electric vehicles in Australia. Nissan Australia’s ability to source the Leaf from alternative factories will determine whether customers in Australia will have access to an EV option. The retooling of Nissan’s Sunderland plant indicates the company’s commitment to producing electric vehicles in the future.
