Nissan expects its new Leaf all-electric vehicle to be available for about the same price as a Toyota Prius when it goes on sale next year.
Full price details will be published at the end of May, but including government incentives of up to £5,000, Nissan believes the Leaf should carry a similar £20,000-£22,000 price tag.
It claims that overall maintenance costs for the Leaf should be lower than a Prius because it has fewer moving parts.
The company confirmed it would offer the cars with leased batteries, despite CAP stating electric cars whose batteries are owned by someone else could not be valued.
Nissan managing director Paul Wilcox told Fleet News the company will not be guaranteeing resale values if data was not forthcoming from residual value forecasters.
“Demand will outstrip supply,” he said, “And the way our volume will be capped initially with just 2,000 units in the first year, we are confident this structured approach we’re taking will be the right one to retail the car.
“There will be a leasing model for the batteries as well as other retail models.
“The five-year BIK tax holiday for electric vehicles will attract many drivers, and we have already received a lot of interest in the car.
“Nissan is looking to take leadership in electric vehicles and to hold that position we need to have an accessible product.”
Nissan confirmed there would eventually be a family of four electric vehicles in the product line-up, including a smaller car than the Leaf, as well as a light commercial vehicle and a vehicle in the Infiniti luxury car range.
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