We all raised a glass at Nobull when we heard that Nissan was seizing production of its LEAF EV.
After 13 years and over 280,000 cars, Nissan had called time on the world’s first mass-produced 100% electric car. But the Nobull team weren’t sad. Instead, big broad smiles broke out, remembering that we played a huge part in launching the LEAF in 2011 having organised the two-week long test drive tour event for UK drivers.
Starting at the O2 in London and taking in city centre drive events in Manchester and Newcastle, the tour event enabled company car drivers, dealers, the media, consumers, MPs and celebrities to clock eyes on and drive the LEAF for the very first time.
I vividly remember the first sight of the LEAF’s bright blue bonnet as it poked out of the covered truck that was covertly delivering the car to the O2. The excitement across the entire team was visibly ‘electric’ as we knew we were playing a major part in making UK automotive history, not just launching a new car for Nissan.
At the time there was no talk about range anxiety or any anxious discussions about charging infrastructure, instead it was all about the ‘EV smile’, which the LEAF put on the faces of everyone that drove it.
And smile every driver did, as they got behind the wheel for the first time of a practical five-door family hatchback that accelerated at warp speed, whilst mustering just a small whine from the electric motor. With its aerodynamic styling, a good sized boot and a great standard specification list, what was not to like?
One London-based radio celebrity was smitten by the LEAF, as he had spent the past few years cruising the capital at the wheel of an electric Ford Think microcar, which was one of the very few EV options back then.
Most of the global car brands have now followed Nissan’s zero emissions lead since 2011. In addition, previously unheard of Chinese brands are setting the pace on EV affordability, while the MG brand has had a successful rebirth in the UK helped by battery power.
We have embraced the good news that the LEAF is being replaced by an all-new Sunderland- built model in 2026, as part of a £3bn investment in the factory. We look forward to seeing this exciting new model but we will never forget the part the Nissan LEAF played in the history of Nobull and the impact it made on the world’s automotive industry.
