The new Nissan LEAF is an upgrade in every way possible and should arrive at dealerships any day now, but getting your hands on one may not be so easy.
The new Nissan LEAF is finally here, but it may be limited
Nissan’s iconic electric hatch is returning with a new crossover style, over 300 miles of driving range, and it even has an NACS port so you can recharge at Tesla Superchargers (and we got a chance to check it out).
Like the OG LEAF, the new model will be one of the most affordable EVs on the market. In fact, Nissan claims the new LEAF has “the lowest starting MSRP for any new EV currently on sale in the US.”
With starting prices at just $29,990, the 2026 Nissan LEAF is cheaper than the first-generation model, launched in 2011 for $32,780.
Despite the upgrades, it’s even more affordable than the current 2025 model year, which starts at $34,230. It almost sounds too good to be true.
According to Nikkei, Nissan cut production plans for the new LEAF by more than half for September through November.
The significantly lower output is due to a battery shortage at Nissan’s Tochigi plant in Japan, where the new LEAF is made for the US and domestic market.
The batteries are supplied by AESC, which Nissan still owns a partial stake in. Nissan officials said LEAF production will be cut by several thousand units in some months with “particularly steep reductions” in September and October.
Electrek’s Take
Since Nissan still can’t secure the batteries needed, the production snag could impact sales, the report noted. With Nissan betting on the new LEAF as a cornerstone of its comeback plans, this could be another major blow for the Japanese automaker.
For the first time, Nissan dropped out of the top 10 global automakers by sales in the first half of 2025 as it faces new threats from Tesla and lower-cost Chinese EV makers like BYD.
Earlier this week, Honda introduced the N-ONE e, its first electric kei car that will go head-to-head with Nissan’s Sakura, the best-selling EV in Japan. BYD is also set to launch its first mini EV in Japan.
Nissan sold 1.61 million vehicles, 6% fewer than in the first half of 2024, and its lowest in 16 years. If production doesn’t improve, it will be an even more uphill battle for Nissan as it looks to claw its way back.
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