Nissan is making its Leaf electric car even more appealing to those looking to switch to battery power by making it cheaper. In fact, Nissan has knocked as much as €1,843 off the price of a new Leaf.
€27,595 starting price
Most of that reduction comes from the changes made in the recent Budget to the VRT bands, and they bring the price down to €27,595 for the new Leaf 40kWh XE model - that makes the Leaf only slightly more expensive than smaller rivals, such as the Renault Zoe or Opel Corsa-e, both of which have longer ranges, but neither of which are as roomy as the larger Leaf.
"The Budget VRT changes and recent VAT changes have had a very positive impact on the cost of buying a new Nissan LEAF and this, in turn, has led to a significant upsurge in interest from EV buyers online and across our dealer network," said James McCarthy, CEO of Nissan Ireland.
"This upsurge is also being driven by our 'Power of Zero' initiative with AIB and Electric Ireland which offers 0 per cent finance, the free provision and installation of a home charger and one year's free servicing to anyone buying a new Nissan Leaf," he added.
Biggest reduction for top-spec 62kWh model
The biggest reduction in price is for the top-spec 62kWh battery Leaf in SVE trim, which gets that €1,843 reduction, bringing its price down to a more palatable €38,657. That 62kWh version has a range of 385km, compared to the 270km of the 40kWh model. Other price drops in the Leaf range include a €506 reduction for the 40kWh SV model, bringing it down to €29,384, and a €999 price drop for the 40kWh Leaf SVE, bringing its price to €32,801. The cheapest of the longer range 62kWh models, the SV Premium, now costs €36,332, which is a reduction of €1,508.
6,000 Irish sales
While the number of competitors for the Leaf has grown dramatically, the model has been a big success in the Irish market, with more than 6,000 sold since the first-generation Leaf was introduced. 500,000 Leafs have been sold worldwide.
"There has never been a better time to buy a new Nissan Leaf. The tax savings that the changes to the VRT and VAT rates deliver and our 'Power of Zero' offer presents a golden opportunity for motorists to join the thousands of Nissan Leaf drivers who are already saving money and the environment," said Mr. McCarthy. "Nissan is committed to creating a sustainable Ireland. We are making EV driving affordable and are helping families to switch to 100 per cent electric driving today, to become more sustainable and to make a very real impact in reducing Ireland's CO2 emissions."