News Nissan celebrates production of the 500,000th LEAF

Sunderland-built car delivered to customer in Norway ahead of World EV Day

• LEAF globally have supported drivers towards a more sustainable society, with over 14.8 billion clean-air kilometers driven since 2010¹
• As a mass-market electric vehicle pioneer, Nissan has more than a decade of rich expertise in development and production
• Nissan Australia Casting Plant continues to support worldwide LEAF production

PARIS (Sept. 9, 2020) – In celebration of World EV Day, Nissan marked the production of the 500,000th LEAF, the world’s first mass-market 100% electric car. With half a million LEAF built globally, customers around the world continue to embrace the pioneering zero-emission vehicle.

The milestone was achieved at Nissan’s plant in Sunderland, England, almost a decade after the model first went on sale. The plant has built more than 175,000 LEAF cars since it began producing the model in 2013.

Nissan’s manufacturing facilities in Sunderland continue to craft the LEAF to the highest standards to ensure that every LEAF embodies innovation and excitement, while striving to make advances in sustainable mobility.

The Nissan LEAF has won accolades around the world including Car of the Year 2011 in Europe, World Car of the Year 2011, and Car of the Year Japan in 2011 and 2012. More importantly, the car has earned the trust of hundreds of thousands of customers.

The 500,000th LEAF found its happy owner, Maria Jansen, in Norway.

“My husband and I chose to buy a Nissan LEAF back in 2018, and we loved it,” Jansen said. “We’re very excited to become the proud owners of the 500,000th Nissan LEAF. This car really meets our needs with extended range and enhanced technologies.”

The LEAF offers customers advanced technologies to enhance safety, comfort and control on the road and e-Pedal technology for one-pedal driving.

With more than 14.8 billion clean-air kilometers driven since 2010¹, LEAF owners around the world have helped prevent more than 2.4 billion kilograms of CO₂ emissions.

During recent lockdowns, air quality improved around the world due to a decrease in CO₂-emitting activities. In Europe, studies show that 68% of people support measures to prevent a return to previous levels of air pollution².

“Consumers have seen what cleaner air and reduced noise pollution feel like during lockdowns,” said Helen Perry, head of electric passenger cars and infrastructure at Nissan Europe. “Now more than ever, they’re looking to take positive steps towards a more sustainable future and the Nissan LEAF contributes to this efforts.”

While the 500,000th LEAF rolled off the factory line in Sunderland, UK, the Nissan Australia Casting Plant (NCAP) continues to produce 2.5 million metal casting per year here in Victoria, including critical components to support Nissan’s global EV production requirements. Featuring the distinctive kangaroo insignia on each part, the 94,000m² Dandenong South facility delivers a range of aluminium die-cast components for every Nissan LEAF produced worldwide, including the model’s stator housing.

Join Nissan’s “Electrify the World” movement on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using the hashtag #ElectrifyTheWorld.

Celebrate World EV Day by using the hashtag #WorldEVDay