We're waiting for Nissan to confirm or deny this, but it looks like anyone still sitting on the fence about ordering a Leaf or not will soon notice that they've been sitting on barbed wire and had better jump down to one side or the other, pronto. According to a post on My Nissan Leaf, Nissan is going to shut down Leaf reservations today. But it's for a good reason. Here's the text, supposedly taken from a Nissan email that's going to go out later today:
We'll update this when we hear back, but for now, if you want a Leaf and have $99 to spare, it just might be time to put up or shut up. Thanks to EVNow for the tip!Nissan aggressively anticipated reaching its goal of 20,000 consumer reservations by December 2010 and we are excited to announce that we have reached this goal 3 months ahead of schedule! Therefore, on 9/23/10, Nissan will shut down the reservation system in order to focus on providing the best level of customer service and premium ownership experience to those who have already reserved.
All current reservation holders will continue to have the opportunity to purchase or lease a Nissan LEAF. Those who are interested in the Nissan LEAF but have yet to make a reservation are invited to sign up for information and updates on http://www.nissanusa.com. A subsequent phase of reservations for those consumers will begin next year.
*UPDATE: It's true. Press release now available after the jump.
[Source: My Nissan Leaf]
PRESS RELEASE
NISSAN REACHES 20,000-RESERVATION MILESTONE FOR NISSAN LEAF; FIRST PHASE OF CUSTOMER RESERVATIONS COMPLETED
– Drive Electric Tour Kicks Off in October –
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (Sept. 23, 2010) – Consumer interest for the Nissan LEAF continues to grow, as Nissan North America Inc. today marks its 20,000th reservation for the 100-percent electric car.
Nissan had anticipated reaching its stated target of 20,000 reservations at the time of the first U.S. Nissan LEAF delivery, in December. This achievement comes three months ahead of schedule and just days before Nissan kicks off the "Drive Electric Tour." The 23-city tour will give reservation holders and those interested in driving a Nissan LEAF a chance to experience all-electric driving firsthand.
Achieving 20,000 reservations marks the successful completion of the first phase of the Nissan LEAF rollout, which began more than five months ago, and no further reservations will be taken until next year. Nissan now is focusing on providing the best level of customer service and premium ownership experience to those who already have enrolled. A subsequent phase of reservations will begin next year, after current reservations and orders have been processed.
Consumers who already have made reservations will continue to have the opportunity to purchase or lease an all-electric Nissan LEAF. Nissan is following its planned order-release timing for existing reservationists. Orders have been prioritized based on market timing and when consumers submitted their original reservations online and paid their refundable $99 reservation fee.
Those who are interested in the Nissan LEAF but have yet to make reservations are invited to sign up for information and updates on www.nissanusa.com. They will be contacted in advance of the next phase of vehicle reservations.
"As of today, 20,000 consumers have spoken, and they are choosing the Nissan LEAF and a zero-emission future," said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan North America. "We, along with our dealers, now look forward to focusing on providing an absolute top-level purchase experience to our first customers, and to help ensure that the transition to gas-free driving is a seamless one. We invite all who are interested in experiencing the Nissan LEAF to join us at the upcoming Drive Electric Tour, which is coming to 23 cities beginning this fall."
Consumers and other interested drivers will have the first opportunity to test-drive a Nissan LEAF in select markets starting Oct. 1 through the "Drive Electric Tour." The tour will provide information about the car, its technology, and its features, along with the first public test-drives.
Tour stops include:
Oct. 1-3: Santa Monica, Calif. Jan. 7-9, 2011: Houston
Oct. 8-10: Anaheim, Calif. Jan. 14-16: Dallas
Oct. 15-17: San Diego Jan. 21-23: Jacksonville, Fla.
Oct. 22-24: Los Angeles Jan. 28-30: Miami
Oct. 29-31: San Jose, Calif. Feb. 4-6: Orlando, Fla.
Nov. 5-7: Hillsboro, Ore. Feb. 11-13: Tampa, Fla.
Nov. 12-14: Seattle Feb. 18-20: Atlanta
Nov. 20-28: San Francisco Feb. 25-27: Knoxville
Dec. 3-5: Tempe, Ariz. March 4-6: Charlotte, N.C.
Dec. 10-12: Tucson, Ariz. March 11-13: Raleigh, N.C.
Dec. 17-19: Austin, Texas March 18-20: Washington, D.C.
March 25-27: Nashville
Interested drivers can learn more about the tour, including specific locations, and register to drive the Nissan LEAF at www.drivenissanleaf.com. Sales of the Nissan LEAF begin in December in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Tennessee. In January 2011, sales begin in Texas and Hawaii. The Nissan LEAF will be available nationwide by the end of 2011.
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010 and has been recognized as a 2010 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America, the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.nissanusa.com.
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