Nissan Delivery Pace Slow In US as Well As Japan

Jeff Heeren gets into his new Nissan Leaf electric car on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Nissan Motor Co. had only delivered 106 units of its Leaf electric vehicle in the United States as of the end of January following its launch on Dec. 11, even though it has already taken 20,000 orders, company officials said Monday.

The automaker is also delivering the EV slowly in Japan, although sales of new models tend to be high in the first and second months following launch.

While denying any manufacturing or quality problems, Nissan attributed the slow pace to the careful process involved in its first mass-production of EVs.

"We'll be capable of producing 10,000 units by the end of March according to our production plan," a spokesperson said.

A sharp rise in overseas sales is unlikely as Nissan is expected to place priority on domestic deliveries to enable customers in Japan to benefit from government subsidies for the purchase of EVs earmarked in the state budget for fiscal 2010 ending March.

Nissan plans to sell 6,000 Leaf units in Japan by the end of March and has already received enough orders to fulfill the target.

Nissan had delivered only 981 units of the Leaf in Japan as of the end of January, after launching it in the country on Dec. 20. The company is accelerating production.

Source: Mainichi Daily News