The LEAF is the world’s biggest-selling pure electric vehicle, and since 2013 has been locally built in Sunderland for European customers, Smyrna, Tennessee for American markets as well as remaining in the Oppama plant in Japan for Asia. Localised production has also allowed for a three-tier range.

Sales have ramped up in the meantime – the company announced it had reached 50,000 units sold globally last February, a figure it has doubled in less than 12 months. 

Guillaume Cartier, senior vice president sales and marketing, Nissan Europe, said the hike in popularity had been helped by improved rapid charging infrastructure, such as the Electric Highway in the UK which now covers most major motorway routes.

‘Don't forget that when Nissan LEAF was launched in 2010, the charging infrastructure was in its infancy,' he said. 'But that didn't deter the pioneers who immediately appreciated the benefits of a purpose-designed electric vehicle. Three years on, many are already on their second Nissan LEAF. With five seats, practical back doors and class-leading boot space volume, the Nissan LEAF is the EV for the real world.’

‘Today, meanwhile, many cities have growing networks of quick chargers and this is helping accelerate sales of the multi-award winning LEAF.’