ANN ARBOR, April 20, 2010 -- Nissan has announced that it will begin taking reservations for the all-electric Nissan LEAF beginning today. The vehicle will begin arriving in dealerships in December and should be widely available in early 2011.

Making a reservation is the first step a customer has to take to get on the list to purchase or lease a Nissan LEAF. About 115,000 hand-raisers have already expressed interest in Nissan LEAF on NissanUSA.com; these people will be given priority.

“Early interest in the Nissan LEAF has been highly encouraging,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, sales & marketing, NNA. “People from across the country have raised their hands to be among the first to drive home a Nissan LEAF. Consumers are pledging broad support for the first affordable electric vehicle for the mass market.”

Details of the Nissan LEAF reservation process are:

• Priority reservation instructions will be sent to early registrants by email between 1-6 pm EDT on April 20. The email will include an exclusive link enabling each person to start the reservation process.
   
• Through the link, the customer will create an account, configure his or her vehicle, and answer questions to complete a driving profile.
   
• Consumers will be asked to pay by credit card a $99 reservation fee, which is fully refundable.
   
• After placing a reservation, a customer will be able to indicate a preferred dealer.
   
• Consumers who reserve a Nissan LEAF will receive confirmation numbers. Nissan will provide individual updates for their reservations by June 30.
   
• Reservations are limited to one per household.
   
• Consumer inquiries about the reservation process can be answered at the Nissan LEAF call center, 1-877-664-2738.

Including the $7,500 federal tax credit for which the Nissan LEAF will be fully eligible, the consumer’s after-tax net value of the vehicle will be $25,280. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price *(MSRP) for the 2011 all-electric, zero-emission Nissan LEAF is $32,780, which includes three years of roadside assistance. Additionally, there is an array of state and local incentives that may further defray the costs and increase the benefits of owning and charging a Nissan LEAF – such as a $5,000 statewide tax rebate in California; a $5,000 tax credit in Georgia; a $1,500 tax credit in Oregon; and carpool-lane access in some states, including California.

“Imagine the possibility of never needing to go to a gas station again. Or of paying less than $3 for 100 miles behind the wheel. Or of creating zero emissions while driving," said Carolin. “Nissan leads the industry by offering the first affordable, zero-emission vehicle for the mass market. Nissan LEAF truly is in a class by itself.”