Nissan LEAF Posts Year's Best Sales Result In US For November, 3 Months Of Gains

In September, the Nissan LEAF snapped a 20 month sales losing streak, then in October the all-electric car did one better - setting a new 2015 high with more than 1,400 sales.

Could the LEAF make it 3 months of gains in a row, despite an aging platform and the pending arrival of a half dozen newcomers and upgraded models?  You bet it could.

Through the magic of the Fall selling season, a new cheaper 30 kWh version of the car, the approaching end of the 2016 fiscal season (and with it the ability to claim the $7,500 federal credit on this year's taxes)...and most importantly some anemic year-over-year comps, the LEAF not only bested last year's result, but set another new 2016 high.

For November, 1,457 cars were sold, a 38% gain over the 1,054 sold in November 2015.

For the year to date, 12,107 Nissan EVs have been delivered in the US, still off by a decently large 24% against the 15,922 moved last year, and 27,098 from 2014.

As always, no explanation is necessary as to why the current LEAF is not selling as well this year; the model is aging, and even the 30 kWh/107 mile battery upgrade that was introduced a year ago pales in comparison to the recently upgraded BMW i3 (114 miles),  VW e-Golf (~124 miles), new Hyundai IONIQ Electric (124 miles).

To say nothing of the upcoming competition the LEAF faces from the Chevrolet Bolt EV (~238 miles) in December, the Tesla Model 3 next Summer (215+ miles), or new faces just arriving the PHEV segment; like the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan (33 mile PHEV) and Toyota Prius Prime (25 mile PHEV).

In an unrelated matter (sarc): Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn is making his way across the pond the first week of January to give a keynote speech (on electric vehicles and to "

*- Nissan debuted two new (and fairly quirky) ad spots for the LEAF - watch here

*- the Madison, Wisconson area joined Nissan's "No Charge to Charge", free 2 years charging incentive program when buying a new LEAF - giving the US 50 cities/regions participating in the offering

*- Nissan's first all-electric vehicle e-NV200 WORKSPACe debuted - a thought bubble into the mobile, all-electric office