Nissan Leaf is the first Mass Marketed Electric Vehicle and also the global leader in the EV market. Pioneer Moto Corp Pvt. Ltd, the authorized distributor of Nissan in Nepal had earlier postponed the launch of the Leaf in Nepal after the Government decided to hike the excise duty on electric vehicles.

However, with the reduction in customs duty and removal of excise duty on EVs in the recently announced fiscal budget, the company has teased the Nissan Leaf fully-electric five-door hatchback on its social media platforms, probably signaling an imminent launch after the current Covid-19 restrictions are called off. The prices for the Leaf will be announced shortly, expect it to be priced competitively. 

The Leaf is the most advanced car in Nissan’s EV segment and has sold over 500,000 units so far. The first Nissan Leaf was launched in December of 2010 in Japan and comes with advanced features and a bold new look. In the Nepalese market, the Leaf will be available in a 40 kWh battery pack capable of 270 km on the WLTP cycle. The electric motor delivers 148 BHP and a peak torque of 320 NM. Similarly, the vehicle can reach 0-100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. The electric hatchback will come with a front-wheel drive.

Convenience and comfort features on the Leaf include projector headlamps and LED taillamp, electrically adjustable ORVMs, 7″ digital cum analog instrument cluster, automatic ac, a 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, leather steering wheel, 17″ alloy wheels, double speed on-board charger, front and rear leather seats, and heated front seats among others.

On the safety front, it gets dual airbags, front and rear disc brakes, engine immobilizer, ABS with EBD and brake assist, VDC with hill assist, and an active anti-roll system with Intelligent Trace Control, etc. Dimensions wise, the Leaf measures 4,490mm in length, 1,788mm in width, and 1,530mm in height. It comes with a wheelbase of 2,700mm and a ground clearance of 155mm.

The Nissan Leaf has won several accolades around the world including Car of the Year 2011 in Europe, World Car of the Year 2011, and Car of the Year Japan in 2011 and 2012. More importantly, the car has earned the trust of hundreds of thousands of customers.

The Nissan Leaf will rival the Hyundai Kona EV, Kia Niro EV, and MG ZS EV in the Nepalese market.