Nissan is celebrating the Leaf‘s fifth anniversary, as sales quickly approach 200,000 units since its 2010 launch.
The company expects to hit the milestone in January, cementing the Leaf as the world’s most popular EV. The US and Japan are said to account for more than half of all sales, with respective distributions of 90,000 and 50,000 units, while Europe is a close third with 40,000 units.
The fleet has collectively surpassed 1.2 billion miles, likely reducing emissions by hundreds of thousands of tons compared to traditional gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles. Nissan points out that the number is equivalent to 2,600 round trips between the Earth and moon.
The Leaf has received a modest refresh for the 2016 model year, introducing an optional 30-kWh battery that bumps driving range from 84 miles to 107 miles. Rumors suggest the next-generation Leaf will provide up to 250 miles of range, enabling the EV to better compete with upcoming entries such as the Chevrolet Bolt and Tesla Model 3.
The company has invested more than $4.1 billion USD in EV projects as it works to retain its leading role in the segment.
“EV technology will continue to be at the heart of Nissan’s product development efforts,” said CEO Carlos Ghosn. “By combining our pioneering EV technologies and other intelligence and innovations, Nissan is moving closer to a zero-emission future for car transportation.”
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