Latest news with #JukeEV
Perth Now
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Nissan asks suppliers if it can delay payments
Off the back of huge losses, Nissan is facing a cash crunch, and is now resorting to delaying tactics. According to emails seen by Reuters, Nissan asked suppliers in the UK and Europe if they will accept late payments so that the company can have more cash on hand at the end of the current quarter. Nissan wanted to push supplier payments due in June out to August, and even September. Similar tactics were reportedly employed at the end of March to close out the company's financial year. In one email, a director notes his team hasn't achieved its target of freeing up €150 million ($269 million) of cash flow. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The automaker confirmed to the news agency it had asked some suppliers if they were amenable to more flexible payments whereby 'they could choose to be paid immediately or opt for a later payment with interest'. It added it wanted to delay payments to suppliers so that it had 'sufficient liquidity to weather the costs of the turnaround actions and redeem bond maturities'. Nissan has ¥700 billion (A$7.3 billion) in debt due this current financial year, which ends in March 2026. At the time of writing Nissan has about ¥2.2 trillion (A$23.3 billion) of cash on hand, but the firm expects to have negative free cash flow of around ¥550 billion (A$5.8 billion) in this quarter alone. Nissan doesn't expect to be cash flow positive until some time next year or in early 2027. All three major ratings agencies have adjudged Nissan's long-term debt to be in the upper echelons of the 'junk' or non-investment grades. Further cuts to its debt rating would make it more difficult and more expensive to gain access to loans. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Nissan's UK division has confirmed to local media outlets, including Autocar and The Northern Echo, it is seeking to reduce headcount at its Sunderland factory by 250 people via voluntary redundancies. The plant currently employs around 6000 people, and no manufacturing staff are being let go. The factory currently produces the Qashqai and Juke for the UK, Europe and Australia. It will also make the next-generation Leaf SUV, and new Juke EV. As part of its restructuring plan Nissan will close seven of its 10 car making plants across the world, and reduce its global workforce by 15 per cent or 20,000 people, both by March 2028. Sunderland was first plant to be marked as safe from closure. Nissan has been skating on thin financial ice for the last year-and-a-bit. In May it announced a loss of ¥670.9 billion (A$7.1 billion) for the financial year ending March 2025. Other cost cutting efforts include reducing platforms and development times, potentially selling its Yokohama HQ, and pausing the development of vehicles and technology due for launch after March 2027. It has also established a transformation office' with an initial staff of 300 experts who have been 'empowered to make cost decisions'. MORE: Everything Nissan
7NEWS
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Nissan asks suppliers if it can delay payments
Off the back of huge losses, Nissan is facing a cash crunch, and is now resorting to delaying tactics. According to emails seen by Reuters, Nissan asked suppliers in the UK and Europe if they will accept late payments so that the company can have more cash on hand at the end of the current quarter. Nissan wanted to push supplier payments due in June out to August, and even September. Similar tactics were reportedly employed at the end of March to close out the company's financial year. In one email, a director notes his team hasn't achieved its target of freeing up €150 million ($269 million) of cash flow. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The automaker confirmed to the news agency it had asked some suppliers if they were amenable to more flexible payments whereby 'they could choose to be paid immediately or opt for a later payment with interest'. It added it wanted to delay payments to suppliers so that it had 'sufficient liquidity to weather the costs of the turnaround actions and redeem bond maturities'. Nissan has ¥700 billion (A$7.3 billion) in debt due this current financial year, which ends in March 2026. At the time of writing Nissan has about ¥2.2 trillion (A$23.3 billion) of cash on hand, but the firm expects to have negative free cash flow of around ¥550 billion (A$5.8 billion) in this quarter alone. Nissan doesn't expect to be cash flow positive until some time next year or in early 2027. All three major ratings agencies have adjudged Nissan's long-term debt to be in the upper echelons of the 'junk' or non-investment grades. Further cuts to its debt rating would make it more difficult and more expensive to gain access to loans. Nissan's UK division has confirmed to local media outlets, including Autocar and The Northern Echo, it is seeking to reduce headcount at its Sunderland factory by 250 people via voluntary redundancies. The plant currently employs around 6000 people, and no manufacturing staff are being let go. The factory currently produces the Qashqai and Juke for the UK, Europe and Australia. It will also make the next-generation Leaf SUV, and new Juke EV. As part of its restructuring plan Nissan will close seven of its 10 car making plants across the world, and reduce its global workforce by 15 per cent or 20,000 people, both by March 2028. Sunderland was first plant to be marked as safe from closure. Nissan has been skating on thin financial ice for the last year-and-a-bit. In May it announced a loss of ¥670.9 billion (A$7.1 billion) for the financial year ending March 2025. Other cost cutting efforts include reducing platforms and development times, potentially selling its Yokohama HQ, and pausing the development of vehicles and technology due for launch after March 2027. It has also established a transformation office' with an initial staff of 300 experts who have been 'empowered to make cost decisions'.
The Advertiser
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Nissan asks suppliers if it can delay payments
Off the back of huge losses, Nissan is facing a cash crunch, and is now resorting to delaying tactics. According to emails seen by Reuters, Nissan asked suppliers in the UK and Europe if they will accept late payments so that the company can have more cash on hand at the end of the current quarter. Nissan wanted to push supplier payments due in June out to August, and even September. Similar tactics were reportedly employed at the end of March to close out the company's financial year. In one email, a director notes his team hasn't achieved its target of freeing up €150 million ($269 million) of cash flow. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse automaker confirmed to the news agency it had asked some suppliers if they were amenable to more flexible payments whereby "they could choose to be paid immediately or opt for a later payment with interest". It added it wanted to delay payments to suppliers so that it had "sufficient liquidity to weather the costs of the turnaround actions and redeem bond maturities". Nissan has ¥700 billion (A$7.3 billion) in debt due this current financial year, which ends in March 2026. At the time of writing Nissan has about ¥2.2 trillion (A$23.3 billion) of cash on hand, but the firm expects to have negative free cash flow of around ¥550 billion (A$5.8 billion) in this quarter alone. Nissan doesn't expect to be cash flow positive until some time next year or in early 2027. All three major ratings agencies have adjudged Nissan's long-term debt to be in the upper echelons of the "junk" or non-investment grades. Further cuts to its debt rating would make it more difficult and more expensive to gain access to loans. Nissan's UK division has confirmed to local media outlets, including Autocar and The Northern Echo, it is seeking to reduce headcount at its Sunderland factory by 250 people via voluntary redundancies. The plant currently employs around 6000 people, and no manufacturing staff are being let go. The factory currently produces the Qashqai and Juke for the UK, Europe and Australia. It will also make the next-generation Leaf SUV, and new Juke EV. As part of its restructuring plan Nissan will close seven of its 10 car making plants across the world, and reduce its global workforce by 15 per cent or 20,000 people, both by March 2028. Sunderland was first plant to be marked as safe from closure. Nissan has been skating on thin financial ice for the last year-and-a-bit. In May it announced a loss of ¥670.9 billion (A$7.1 billion) for the financial year ending March 2025. Other cost cutting efforts include reducing platforms and development times, potentially selling its Yokohama HQ, and pausing the development of vehicles and technology due for launch after March 2027. It has also established a transformation office" with an initial staff of 300 experts who have been "empowered to make cost decisions". MORE: Everything Nissan Content originally sourced from: Off the back of huge losses, Nissan is facing a cash crunch, and is now resorting to delaying tactics. According to emails seen by Reuters, Nissan asked suppliers in the UK and Europe if they will accept late payments so that the company can have more cash on hand at the end of the current quarter. Nissan wanted to push supplier payments due in June out to August, and even September. Similar tactics were reportedly employed at the end of March to close out the company's financial year. In one email, a director notes his team hasn't achieved its target of freeing up €150 million ($269 million) of cash flow. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse automaker confirmed to the news agency it had asked some suppliers if they were amenable to more flexible payments whereby "they could choose to be paid immediately or opt for a later payment with interest". It added it wanted to delay payments to suppliers so that it had "sufficient liquidity to weather the costs of the turnaround actions and redeem bond maturities". Nissan has ¥700 billion (A$7.3 billion) in debt due this current financial year, which ends in March 2026. At the time of writing Nissan has about ¥2.2 trillion (A$23.3 billion) of cash on hand, but the firm expects to have negative free cash flow of around ¥550 billion (A$5.8 billion) in this quarter alone. Nissan doesn't expect to be cash flow positive until some time next year or in early 2027. All three major ratings agencies have adjudged Nissan's long-term debt to be in the upper echelons of the "junk" or non-investment grades. Further cuts to its debt rating would make it more difficult and more expensive to gain access to loans. Nissan's UK division has confirmed to local media outlets, including Autocar and The Northern Echo, it is seeking to reduce headcount at its Sunderland factory by 250 people via voluntary redundancies. The plant currently employs around 6000 people, and no manufacturing staff are being let go. The factory currently produces the Qashqai and Juke for the UK, Europe and Australia. It will also make the next-generation Leaf SUV, and new Juke EV. As part of its restructuring plan Nissan will close seven of its 10 car making plants across the world, and reduce its global workforce by 15 per cent or 20,000 people, both by March 2028. Sunderland was first plant to be marked as safe from closure. Nissan has been skating on thin financial ice for the last year-and-a-bit. In May it announced a loss of ¥670.9 billion (A$7.1 billion) for the financial year ending March 2025. Other cost cutting efforts include reducing platforms and development times, potentially selling its Yokohama HQ, and pausing the development of vehicles and technology due for launch after March 2027. It has also established a transformation office" with an initial staff of 300 experts who have been "empowered to make cost decisions". MORE: Everything Nissan Content originally sourced from: Off the back of huge losses, Nissan is facing a cash crunch, and is now resorting to delaying tactics. According to emails seen by Reuters, Nissan asked suppliers in the UK and Europe if they will accept late payments so that the company can have more cash on hand at the end of the current quarter. Nissan wanted to push supplier payments due in June out to August, and even September. Similar tactics were reportedly employed at the end of March to close out the company's financial year. In one email, a director notes his team hasn't achieved its target of freeing up €150 million ($269 million) of cash flow. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse automaker confirmed to the news agency it had asked some suppliers if they were amenable to more flexible payments whereby "they could choose to be paid immediately or opt for a later payment with interest". It added it wanted to delay payments to suppliers so that it had "sufficient liquidity to weather the costs of the turnaround actions and redeem bond maturities". Nissan has ¥700 billion (A$7.3 billion) in debt due this current financial year, which ends in March 2026. At the time of writing Nissan has about ¥2.2 trillion (A$23.3 billion) of cash on hand, but the firm expects to have negative free cash flow of around ¥550 billion (A$5.8 billion) in this quarter alone. Nissan doesn't expect to be cash flow positive until some time next year or in early 2027. All three major ratings agencies have adjudged Nissan's long-term debt to be in the upper echelons of the "junk" or non-investment grades. Further cuts to its debt rating would make it more difficult and more expensive to gain access to loans. Nissan's UK division has confirmed to local media outlets, including Autocar and The Northern Echo, it is seeking to reduce headcount at its Sunderland factory by 250 people via voluntary redundancies. The plant currently employs around 6000 people, and no manufacturing staff are being let go. The factory currently produces the Qashqai and Juke for the UK, Europe and Australia. It will also make the next-generation Leaf SUV, and new Juke EV. As part of its restructuring plan Nissan will close seven of its 10 car making plants across the world, and reduce its global workforce by 15 per cent or 20,000 people, both by March 2028. Sunderland was first plant to be marked as safe from closure. Nissan has been skating on thin financial ice for the last year-and-a-bit. In May it announced a loss of ¥670.9 billion (A$7.1 billion) for the financial year ending March 2025. Other cost cutting efforts include reducing platforms and development times, potentially selling its Yokohama HQ, and pausing the development of vehicles and technology due for launch after March 2027. It has also established a transformation office" with an initial staff of 300 experts who have been "empowered to make cost decisions". MORE: Everything Nissan Content originally sourced from: Off the back of huge losses, Nissan is facing a cash crunch, and is now resorting to delaying tactics. According to emails seen by Reuters, Nissan asked suppliers in the UK and Europe if they will accept late payments so that the company can have more cash on hand at the end of the current quarter. Nissan wanted to push supplier payments due in June out to August, and even September. Similar tactics were reportedly employed at the end of March to close out the company's financial year. In one email, a director notes his team hasn't achieved its target of freeing up €150 million ($269 million) of cash flow. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse automaker confirmed to the news agency it had asked some suppliers if they were amenable to more flexible payments whereby "they could choose to be paid immediately or opt for a later payment with interest". It added it wanted to delay payments to suppliers so that it had "sufficient liquidity to weather the costs of the turnaround actions and redeem bond maturities". Nissan has ¥700 billion (A$7.3 billion) in debt due this current financial year, which ends in March 2026. At the time of writing Nissan has about ¥2.2 trillion (A$23.3 billion) of cash on hand, but the firm expects to have negative free cash flow of around ¥550 billion (A$5.8 billion) in this quarter alone. Nissan doesn't expect to be cash flow positive until some time next year or in early 2027. All three major ratings agencies have adjudged Nissan's long-term debt to be in the upper echelons of the "junk" or non-investment grades. Further cuts to its debt rating would make it more difficult and more expensive to gain access to loans. Nissan's UK division has confirmed to local media outlets, including Autocar and The Northern Echo, it is seeking to reduce headcount at its Sunderland factory by 250 people via voluntary redundancies. The plant currently employs around 6000 people, and no manufacturing staff are being let go. The factory currently produces the Qashqai and Juke for the UK, Europe and Australia. It will also make the next-generation Leaf SUV, and new Juke EV. As part of its restructuring plan Nissan will close seven of its 10 car making plants across the world, and reduce its global workforce by 15 per cent or 20,000 people, both by March 2028. Sunderland was first plant to be marked as safe from closure. Nissan has been skating on thin financial ice for the last year-and-a-bit. In May it announced a loss of ¥670.9 billion (A$7.1 billion) for the financial year ending March 2025. Other cost cutting efforts include reducing platforms and development times, potentially selling its Yokohama HQ, and pausing the development of vehicles and technology due for launch after March 2027. It has also established a transformation office" with an initial staff of 300 experts who have been "empowered to make cost decisions". MORE: Everything Nissan Content originally sourced from:
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
5 things you need to know about the new Nissan Leaf
Published: Updated: Nissan's all-new Leaf is here... and it needs to impress. That's because this heavily revised electric car has the weight of thousands of UK jobs in the North East resting on its success. Having posted a record net loss of £3.8billion last year, Nissan in May announced plans to shutter seven vehicle plants and cut 20,000 global jobs as part of its huge cost-saving drive. But bosses spared the Sunderland factory - which has been manufacturing vehicles since 1984 - and its 6,000-strong workforce with the site selected for European production of the forthcoming Juke EV and this new third-generation Leaf. 1. It's being built in Sunderland The fact that the all-new Leaf – arguably Nissan's best bet at recapturing the electric car market now dominated by cheap Chinese EVs and some strong competition from Renault, Kia and Hyundai - is being built at its North East factory is a great vote of confidence for the future of Nissan in the UK , British jobs and the economy. The Government has given Nissan £1billion to safeguard Sunderland jobs and the new Juke EV will also be built at Sunderland , cementing it as the core of Nissan's new electric car era and a centre of innovation and the future of manufacturing. 2. The Leaf has an all-new look The previous Leaf - which was available from 2018 - was starting to look dated by the time production ceased last year. Bulbous, chunky and without so much as a chiseled surface in sight, the second generation was starting to show its age against modern, svelte design from rivals. But Nissan has 'reimagined' the styling for this third generation, which by the admission of Giovanni Arroba, Nissan's vice president of design in Europe, was 'a big challenge'. As you can see, it's a big diversion from the conventional hatchback design of before. Instead, it has a taller crossover stance, with a swopping roofline, a small tail spoiler over the rear light cluster and defined profile. Targeting aerodynamics to squeeze every inch of range out of the battery and electric drivetrain, its silhouette has been moulded in the wind tunnel, with the flushness of the car a nod to iconic '90s Nissans, notably the Nissan 300ZX, which was identified as a key aerodynamic inspiration. Other bodywork tweaks, such as front door handles that sit flush into the bodywork when the car starts to move, and rear handles hidden in the C-pillar, should make it more aerodynamically efficient. The front has been reshaped with a light-up badge and lightbar, the whole car is soft and approachable to feel 'like an iPhone widget', there's a 45-degree rear silhouette angle, and the shortened overhang at the front has brought the wheels out to each corner giving more presence. There are a few nice hidden design features too that, without explanation, you might not spot. For instance, there are combinations of two and three dotted across the car, notably the rear light cluster (made up of a pair and trio of LEDs) and charge point cover. This is [ apparently ] a nod to how Nissan was originally named: 'Ni' meaning sun and 'ssan' meaning birth. There are seven colour options available to customers, including a bright pop teal (pictured) and 'hot red'. 3. It will be the most practical Leaf yet For a compact crossover SUV, the all-new Leaf boasts an impressive amount of space, which is partially thanks to inventive design. The Leaf measures 1,550mm high and 4,350mm long. To put that into perspective, it's lower but longer than a VW ID.3 (1,562mm by 4,264mm) and almost on part with Hyundai's Kona EV (1,585mm by 4,350mm). The all-new Leaf is 14cm shorter than the old model but 10mm wider and 10mm taller. This can really be felt once sat inside, with shoulder room increased (by 40mm, apparently) and there's also 80mm of additional rear leg room, which is ideal for taller passengers or teenagers midway through a growth spurt. Nissan's also given the Leaf a flat floor and done away with a centre console to maximise the available space front and back. With the centre unit gone, the drive selector (to engage drive, reverse and park) has been relocated to the dashboard, leaving just cupholders and an armrest cubby between the front two seats. Extra thought has been given to storage spaces, too. There's an additional glovebox-esque compartment hidden away under the central dash (big enough for a phone, wallet, or you house keys), a multi-layered boot (which is 50 litres bigger than before at 473 litres), a storage compartment in the middle rear seat, and an extra cubby in the boot left-hand side for the charging cables. 4. Enough battery range to get you from London to Scotland without stopping There are two batteries to choose from: a smaller 52kWh unit offering up to 270 miles of range on a single charge, and a larger 75kWh battery which ups the distance to 375 miles. The latter means you can theoretically drive from London and into Scotland without needing to stop for a charge. When you do need to pull over some extra juice on the motorway, find a fast charger up to speeds of 150kW and you can add 260 miles of range in around 30 minutes. Wind the clock back to 2011 and the original Leaf had a range of just 124 miles... 5. Revised interior and a boost in tech Inside, the Leaf features two 14.3-inch digital screens with Google Built-in, mimicking your Android smartphone, laptop or tablet from Google Maps to Play Store and Gmail. In a win for driver distraction, you can even login to the system before your journey and leave your phone at home! During our brief time spent with the Leaf, I only managed to play around with the system quickly, but the touchscreen display is very easy to use, with clear and intuitive widgets and layout, and an overall very pleasing design. The quality was impressive too, especially when playing Angry Birds. Customers will also get to tailor the interior of their Leaf. There are two interior colourways – black or light – and a very high-tech panoramic dimming glass roof with 'Leaf' lettering that appears or disappears as you change the thermal tint to keep the heat and light in or out. A feature that more manufacturers should copy is the 'driver's personal headrest speaker', which allows just the driver to hear navigation and calls, while the passengers continue to hear music, so their enjoyment isn't interrupted. Happily, Nissan hasn't entirely done away with button controls, with plenty of the steering wheel and the dash too, so driver's aren't reliant on clumsily prodding away at the the touchscreen to make basic changes to the settings. When's it coming to the UK - and how much will it cost? Order books for the new Nissan Leaf open this autumn. However, first deliveries aren't expected until spring 2026. Trim options have been kept extremely simple. On top of the two battery options, you can choose between four grades: Engage, Engage +, Advance and Evolve. Nissan hasn't confirmed pricing yet but will ultimately aim for the section of the market currently occupied by the Hyundai Kona, Kia Niro and VW ID.3, which will see the smallest battery options start around £30,000. The second generation Leaf cost just under £22,000 when it went on sale in 2018, but what with inflation , a bigger crossover market, a host of new tech, and the aforementioned competition, it is - sadly -unlikely it will be as cheap this time. We can always hope, though.
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Nissan Leaf unveiled: Five things you need to know about the new EV saving 6,000 jobs in Sunderland
Nissan's all-new Leaf is here... and it needs to impress. That's because this heavily revised electric car has the weight of thousands of UK jobs in the North East resting on its success. Having posted a record net loss of £3.8billion last year, Nissan in May announced plans to shutter seven vehicle plants and cut 20,000 global jobs as part of its huge cost-saving drive. But bosses spared the Sunderland factory - which has been manufacturing vehicles since 1984 - and its 6,000-strong workforce with the site selected for European production of the forthcoming Juke EV and this new third-generation Leaf. First launched in 2011, the Leaf is widely considered an EV pioneer. It was the first battery car developed from the ground up by a major manufacturer and first volume-selling electric vehicle. Some 700,000 have sold globally since it debuted, with 290,000 finding homes on European driveways. In total, owners are claimed to have clocked up over 18million miles of zero-emission driving in the last 15 years. This week, we've been granted exclusive early access to check out the new model tasked with turning around Nissan's fortunes. Here's five things you need to know about the 2026 Nissan Leaf. 1. It's being built in Sunderland There's no escaping Nissan is having financial woes of late. After posting its £3.8billion net loss in the financial year 2024-25, Nissan has launched a new strategy - and cost-cutting measures - in the hope it can raise £5.2billion to stay afloat. The fact that the all-new Leaf – arguably Nissan's best bet at recapturing the electric car market now dominated by cheap Chinese EVs and some strong competition from Renault, Kia and Hyundai - is being built at its North East factory is a great vote of confidence for the future of Nissan in the UK, British jobs and the economy. The Government has given Nissan £1billion to safeguard Sunderland jobs and the new Juke EV will also be built at Sunderland, cementing it as the core of Nissan's new electric car era and a centre of innovation and the future of manufacturing. 2. The Leaf has an all-new look The previous Leaf - which was available from 2018 - was starting to look dated by the time production ceased last year. Bulbous, chunky and without so much as a chiseled surface in sight, the second generation was starting to show its age against modern, svelte design from rivals. But Nissan has 'reimagined' the styling for this third generation, which by the admission of Giovanni Arroba, Nissan's vice president of design in Europe, was 'a big challenge'. As you can see, it's a big diversion from the conventional hatchback design of before. Instead, it has a taller crossover stance, with a swopping roofline, a small tail spoiler over the rear light cluster and defined profile. Targeting aerodynamics to squeeze every inch of range out of the battery and electric drivetrain, its silhouette has been moulded in the wind tunnel, with the flushness of the car a nod to iconic '90s Nissans, notably the Nissan 300ZX, which was identified as a key aerodynamic inspiration. Other bodywork tweaks, such as front door handles that sit flush into the bodywork when the car starts to move, and rear handles hidden in the C-pillar, should make it more aerodynamically efficient. The rear lights have a 2-3 design which is a nod to Nissan's characters; 'Ni' means sun and 'ssan' means birth The front has been reshaped with a light-up badge and lightbar, the whole car is soft and approachable to feel 'like an iPhone widget', there's a 45-degree rear silhouette angle, and the shortened overhang at the front has brought the wheels out to each corner giving more presence. There are a few nice hidden design features too that, without explanation, you might not spot. For instance, there are combinations of two and three dotted across the car, notably the rear light cluster (made up of a pair and trio of LEDs) and charge point cover. This is [apparently] a nod to how Nissan was originally named: 'Ni' meaning sun and 'ssan' meaning birth. There are seven colour options available to customers, including a bright pop teal (pictured) and 'hot red'. 3. It will be the most practical Leaf yet For a compact crossover SUV, the all-new Leaf boasts an impressive amount of space, which is partially thanks to inventive design. The Leaf measures 1,550mm high and 4,350mm long. To put that into perspective, it's lower but longer than a VW ID.3 (1,562mm by 4,264mm) and almost on part with Hyundai's Kona EV (1,585mm by 4,350mm). The all-new Leaf is 14cm shorter than the old model but 10mm wider and 10mm taller. This can really be felt once sat inside, with shoulder room increased (by 40mm, apparently) and there's also 80mm of additional rear leg room, which is ideal for taller passengers or teenagers midway through a growth spurt. Nissan's also given the Leaf a flat floor and done away with a centre console to maximise the available space front and back. With the centre unit gone, the drive selector (to engage drive, reverse and park) has been relocated to the dashboard, leaving just cupholders and an armrest cubby between the front two seats. Extra thought has been given to storage spaces, too. There's an additional glovebox-esque compartment hidden away under the central dash (big enough for a phone, wallet, or you house keys), a multi-layered boot (which is 50 litres bigger than before at 473 litres), a storage compartment in the middle rear seat, and an extra cubby in the boot left-hand side for the charging cables. 4. Enough battery range to get you from London to Scotland without stopping There are two batteries to choose from: a smaller 52kWh unit offering up to 270 miles of range on a single charge, and a larger 75kWh battery which ups the distance to 375 miles. The latter means you can theoretically drive from London and into Scotland without needing to stop for a charge. When you do need to pull over some extra juice on the motorway, find a fast charger up to speeds of 150kW and you can add 260 miles of range in around 30 minutes. Wind the clock back to 2011 and the original Leaf had a range of just 124 miles... The Leaf has two 14.3-inch screens with Google Built-in which was very easy to use and means you don't need a smartphone 5. Revised interior and a boost in tech Inside, the Leaf features two 14.3-inch digital screens with Google Built-in, mimicking your Android smartphone, laptop or tablet from Google Maps to Play Store and Gmail. In a win for driver distraction, you can even login to the system before your journey and leave your phone at home! During our brief time spent with the Leaf, I only managed to play around with the system quickly, but the touchscreen display is very easy to use, with clear and intuitive widgets and layout, and an overall very pleasing design. The quality was impressive too, especially when playing Angry Birds. A cool and clever feature is the panoramic dimming glass roof which tints to keep heat and light in or you and reveals 'Leaf' lettering Customers will also get to tailor the interior of their Leaf. There are two interior colourways – black or light – and a very high-tech panoramic dimming glass roof with 'Leaf' lettering that appears or disappears as you change the thermal tint to keep the heat and light in or out. A feature that more manufacturers should copy is the 'driver's personal headrest speaker', which allows just the driver to hear navigation and calls, while the passengers continue to hear music, so their enjoyment isn't interrupted. Happily, Nissan hasn't entirely done away with button controls, with plenty of the steering wheel and the dash too, so driver's aren't reliant on clumsily prodding away at the the touchscreen to make basic changes to the settings. We don't know the price yet but it's likely to be up to the £30k mark many rivals are priced around. Orders are open now and deliveries will begin in Spring 2026 When's it coming to the UK - and how much will it cost? Order books for the new Nissan Leaf open this autumn. However, first deliveries aren't expected until spring 2026. Trim options have been kept extremely simple. On top of the two battery options, you can choose between four grades: Engage, Engage +, Advance and Evolve. Nissan hasn't confirmed pricing yet but will ultimately aim for the section of the market currently occupied by the Hyundai Kona, Kia Niro and VW ID.3, which will see the smallest battery options start around £30,000. The second generation Leaf cost just under £22,000 when it went on sale in 2018, but what with inflation, a bigger crossover market, a host of new tech, and the aforementioned competition, it is - sadly -unlikely it will be as cheap this time. We can always hope, though. A brief history of Nissan Leaf The world's first mass-market EV debuted in 2010, with UK vehicles arriving in March 2011. Nissan had a vision to tackle urbanisation and industrial development by building a car that emits no carbon emissions but is still fun to drive. The first generation had a range of 124 miles (200 kms), CHAdeMO1 charging, and (at the time) unique features like allowing smartphones to check the battery level. The Leaf arrived in the UK in 2011, and went on to sell over 290,000 units in Europe and 700,000 units worldwide It made history and the world took notice, awarding it 2011 European Car of the Year, World Car of the Year and Japan Car of the Year. 2012 welcomed the first vehicle-to-home tech (customers can share power between their homes and cars) and the first range upgrade with the Leaf getting an extra 28km of range. By 2014 the Leaf had passed the 100,000 sales mark. The first generation had a range of 124 miles (200 kms), CHAdeMO1 charging, and (at the time) unique features like allowing smartphones to check the battery level The EV was revised in 2015 with another range upgraded to a healthier 280km (173 miles). Nissan also provided faster charging and a 30kW battery. The second-generation Leaf emerged in 2017, bringing with it a whole host of tech that boosted enjoyment, convenience and efficiency. One pedal drive ('e-Pedal') and ProPilot advanced driver assistance were big steps forward in driving enhancement, while power output increased 38 per cent and torque by 26 per cent making driving a far more thrilling experience that people now expect from today's EVs. Range hit the 249-mile mark too – a big boost forward. 2017 brought in the second-generation Leaf, which was upgraded again in 2022 to refresh the exterior, interior and tech The final upgrade to the second-generation Leaf happened in 2022, after it became the first EV to hit the 500,000 worldwide sales mark two years earlier. The refresh helped keep it relevant and brought in fresher looks as well as next gen connectivity including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, it was beginning to look dated and not measure up on range compared to the huge influx of shiny new EVs entering the market, like the Kia EV6, Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and BMW i4.
