Nissan Leaf Pre-Order Process Launches in the UK

The British division of Nissan announced today it is now accepting orders for the Leaf, its all electric vehicle. First off, customers can sign up online via the dedicated reservation website and put down a refundable GBP257 deposit. Deliveries of the first Japanese-built Nissan Leaf vehicles will start in March 2011 priced at GBP23,990 (including GBP5,000 government incentive).

The receivers will get to test drive the Leaf by the end of this year, at which point they will need to formally confirm their order. A dedicated call centre has also been set up to assist customers with questions.

“The Nissan LEAF is generating huge interest across the world, with more than 25,000 customers already putting down deposits in the US and Japan. We know that the benefits of electric mobility have struck a chord with motorists in the UK and initial interest across retail and fleet channels could result in demand outstripping initial supply,” Paul Willcox, Managing Director of Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd, said in a release.

Available in five exterior colours and one high-specification trim level, all models will come with air conditioning, satellite navigation and a parking camera as standard, plus smartphone connectivity that enables owners to check charging levels plus heat or cool the interior of the car remotely via their handset.

The Leaf will be built at UK’s Sunderland plant from 2013 (initial global production to come from Nissan’s Oppama facility in Japan). Construction of a new battery production facility is already underway in Sunderland and will start producing batteries by 2012. The British battery plant will have a projected annual capacity of 60,000 units and create up to 350 jobs