Nissan Leaf general public reservation period opens tomorrow, 9,500 orders in

Perhaps you forgot to sign up during the pre-registration period on NissanUSA.com or maybe you just wanted to wait it out a bit to learn more about the Leaf, whatever the case may be, there's no need to worry. Reservations for the Leaf will officially open to the general public starting tomorrow and the process will be virtually identical to the earlier priority registrations. You'll be asked some personal questions, submit a $99 refundable deposit, indicate a dealer you would like to purchase from and then wait until the Leaf rolls into your town.

So if you missed out on the earlier priority registration time period, there's no time like the present tomorrow to get your Leaf. Nissan is reporting that 9,500 orders are already in and the number continues to grow daily. There's virtually no competition out there at the Leaf's starting price of $25,280 after incentives and we think it's gonna be one hot electric car. If interested in getting your Leaf before the Joneses, click here to get started.

Still on the fence about the Leaf? Green-Car-Guide had some recent seat time in the final pre-production prototype version of the Leaf and walked away thoroughly impressed with the entire package. They claimed that the engine was as eager as any smaller V6 powerplant out there and felt that the steering and suspension were on par with anything else in its class (read our own review here). Closing out the extensive review, Green-Car-Guide summed up the Leaf this way:

The Nissan LEAF is right at the forefront of the future, and just as the Prius is still seen as the original hybrid, perhaps the LEAF will always be seen as the original 'proper' electric car.

And that's really been our take all along. The Leaf will be the breakthough electric vehicle that shows the public what electric can do.

[Source: Nissan, Green-Car-Guide]

NISSAN OPENS LEAF RESERVATIONS TO GENERAL PUBLIC

- 9,500 consumers sign up during priority reservation window -

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (May 14, 2010) – Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) is opening reservations for the Nissan LEAF zero-emission, all-electric vehicle on May 15 to the general public. The reservation process is a first step in securing a place on the list to purchase or lease a Nissan LEAF.

Nissan offered priority reservations beginning April 20 to select customers who had registered for ongoing communications on the Nissan LEAF via NissanUSA.com. More than 9,500 consumers placed a reservation during this priority window.

The Nissan LEAF begins rolling out to select markets in December, with increased availability beginning in spring 2011, and full market rollout in 2012. Consumers who have made reservations will be sequenced in order for their particular market.

"After the start of priority reservations, interest in the Nissan LEAF only has continued to grow," said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, sales & marketing, NNA. "Consumers clearly are recognizing the benefits of zero emissions and the value proposition the Nissan LEAF offers."

RESERVATIONS

• Through the Nissan LEAF website via NissanUSA.com, 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 a fully refundable $99 reservation fee by credit card.
• 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 maximum $7,500 federal tax credit for which the Nissan LEAF will be fully eligible, the consumer's after-tax net value of the vehicle could be as low as $25,280. The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price *(MSRP) for the 2011 all-electric, zero-emission Nissan LEAF is $32,780. Additionally, there is an array of state and local incentives that may further defray the costs, and increase the benefits, for owning and charging a Nissan LEAF. For example, a $5,000 clean-vehicle rebate is offered 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 . The lease price for the Nissan LEAF begins at $349 per month.

In North America , Nissan's operations include automotive design, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO₂ emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling. More information on the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.nissanusa.com.