Nissan Will Assemble New Leaf In US And UK By The End Of The Year

Nissan is looking to expand its presence in the zero-emission segment by starting full production of the new Leaf in the United States and United Kingdom.

The electric vehicle will hit the assembly lines at Smyrna, Tennessee, and Sunderland, by the end of 2017, thus joining the brand's Oppama Plant in Japan.

"We're proud to continue manufacturing the Nissan Leaf at three plants globally. The Nissan Leaf is the icon of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, with its many advanced technologies. Nissan employees in Oppama, Smyrna, and Sunderland are excited to continue producing the most popular electric vehicle in the world", said the company's Executive VP of Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, Fumiaki Matsumoto.

Unveiled earlier this week, the 2018 Nissan Leaf will arrive at dealers in Japan next month, before being launched in the United States, Canada, and Europe early next year.

It has an entirely new design and powertrain that combines a 40kWh lithium-ion battery pack to an electric motor, feeding 147hp and 236lb-ft (320Nm) of torque to the wheels. Its EPA-estimated range is 150 miles (241km), while in Europe, it's believed that it will cover 235 miles (378km) between charges.

Recharging the battery takes as much as 16 hours via a 3kW plug, or 8 hours from a 6kW plug. Moreover, users will also get to use the quick charging function, which allows the battery to be 'filled' up to 80 percent in just 40 minutes.

Prices for the new generation Nissan Leaf will start at almost $30,000, in the States, before incentives.