When poked and prodded hard enough, an automaker occasionally lets some information squeak out without intentions to do so. Luckily, we almost immediately get wind of any slip-up and bring it directly to you. Case in point: CNN Money writer Peter Valdes-Dapena spoke with Nissan spokesman Steve Oldham. Among other things, the discussion focused on production numbers for the Leaf. As expected, Oldham's responses were scarce on details, but he may have inadvertently let some specifics fly.
As Oldham told CNN Money, Nissan fully expects to have hit its cap of 25,000 Leaf reservations before production kicks off this December. Oldham then remarked that Nissan is only taking reservations that the company can fulfill within the next year. Marry the two statements together and it looks something like this: Nissan will only accept 25,000 Leaf reservations this year because next year's production capacity for the U.S. market is capped at that amount.
If Oldham's words pan out to be true, then the Leaf will have an early jump on the 2011 Chevrolet Volt in terms of production capacity for the 2011 model year. Chevrolet announced plans to build 10,000 Volts in 2011, but it looks like Nissan will trump that mark by a significant margin.
[Source: CNNMoney via Nissan-Leaf]
As Oldham told CNN Money, Nissan fully expects to have hit its cap of 25,000 Leaf reservations before production kicks off this December. Oldham then remarked that Nissan is only taking reservations that the company can fulfill within the next year. Marry the two statements together and it looks something like this: Nissan will only accept 25,000 Leaf reservations this year because next year's production capacity for the U.S. market is capped at that amount.
If Oldham's words pan out to be true, then the Leaf will have an early jump on the 2011 Chevrolet Volt in terms of production capacity for the 2011 model year. Chevrolet announced plans to build 10,000 Volts in 2011, but it looks like Nissan will trump that mark by a significant margin.
[Source: CNNMoney via Nissan-Leaf]
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