Nissan Sees Electric Car Envy in Critics of the Leaf

Nissan's Ghoshn and Nissan Leaf EV

Washington DC December 3, 2010; The AIADA newsletter reported that some skeptics have been harsh in their appraisal of Nissan’s grand plans for electric cars – which the automaker will begin putting into practice with its all-electric Leaf compact, introduced in Japan on Friday.

Critics scoff at everything from the car’s limited driving range to what they consider its inflated price tag. But according to the New York Times, Carlos Ghosn, chief executive at Nissan and its sister automaker, Renault, dismisses the scoffing as his rivals’ lack of imagination – and their envy. “

People who are challenged by innovation are going to fight it in the beginning,” said Ghosn during an interview at Nissan headquarters. The Leaf is part of a bigger mission by Mr. Ghosn to redefine a brand that has at times lagged behind in green technology, a field long dominated by Toyota and its pioneering Prius gasoline-electric hybrid. “

Nissan was a ‘me too’ company,” Mr. Ghosn said. “But in electric, we’re pioneers.” Responding to common criticism, he said the Leaf’s traveling range between charges would meet the needs of most motorists. Volume production will bring down costs, while tax credits, which Nissan says come to $7,500 in the United States, will offset some of the Leaf’s price premium.

Click here to read his entire interview with the New York Times on why he thinks the Leaf is paving the way for the EV future.