Nissan Leaf races ahead of Chevy Volt in May

Christian Science Monitor ^ | June 3, 2013 | By David J. Unger

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Electric car sales hummed along in May amid a solid month for the auto industry. But the surprise story this year was May's strong full-size pickup truck sales – not exactly a sign an endorsement of efficiency and alternative fuels.

Nissan sold 2,138 Leafs in May, up 319 percent over last year. In March, the company sold a record 2,236 units of its all-electric vehicle.

General Motors sold 1,607 Volts in May, down 4.3 percent from a year ago. In the first five months of 2013, the company sold only 100 more Volts than during the same period last year.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Unexected.

[2banana]

How could Nissan DO THIS WITHOUT massive government subsidies and bailouts?

[Pollster1]

But the surprise story this year was May's strong full-size pickup truck sales . . . General Motors sold 1,607 Volts in May, down 4.3 percent from a year ago. In the first five months of 2013, the company sold only 100 more Volts than during the same period last year.

That is a surprise. People would rather have a vehicle that can carry a substantial load than one that can go 40 miles on a charge and may burn your house down if the battery fails while charging. Who would have guessed?

Note: I am boycotting GM forever because of the massive corruption of their "bankruptcy", which ignored bankruptcy law, contract law, and common law. I would not buy a GM car at any price, not even if they were worth having. Fortunately, the Volt is one of the worst vehicles manufactured since the Yugo disappeared, so I'm not missing out on anything worth having.

[adorno]

How could Nissan DO THIS WITHOUT massive government subsidies and bailouts?

Whatever Nissan is doing, the Leaf is still a miserable failure, even if they've outsold the Volt, which isn't saying much.

It's a question of "who's not the biggest loser".

[taildragger]

And the Ford Products are kicking all their sorry butts and the Fusion is eating into Camary and Accord sales to the tune of 30%

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/06/03/ford-just-reported-a-375-increase-in-the-sale-of-this-type-of-vehicle/

Their hybrids and "Energi" Fusion and C-Max lines are rockin....

[barefoot_hiker]

Sure, but is this demand (for Ford or other electrics) “real” or driven by subsidies? A guy at work has a Volt and now an electric Ford Fusion (both leased) and got all kinds of state and federal tax breaks and incentives, including covering most of the cost of installing a charging station in his garage. He said he would not have gotten either vehicle without the incentives as they are too expensive otherwise.

[Jabba the Nutt]

A sales race between the Volt and the Leaf...huh? Snail races would be more exciting.

[lacrew]

The Leaf is eligible for the same $7,500 credit as the Volt.

Its sales are still pitifully small...which could be predicted. Buying an all electric car is puzzling to me.

[2banana]

It is a small market. To those who want a car solely to commute less than 30 miles in a city. Buying an all electric car is puzzling to me.

[Does so]

"...The Leaf is eligible for the same $7,500 credit as the Volt..."

I was giving the Leaf some consideration, until they'd announced they were abandoning the electric car market.

[lacrew]

Even if I lived within 30 miles of work, and had free charging at work...buying the Leaf is still puzzling to me. I would have uber range anxiety in extreme winter weather...especially if I needed to expend precious battery juice to defrost the window, etc.

But to me the real fear is that the battery will act like every other battery I’ve ever owned...and gradually lose its ability to recharge fully. Sooner or later, my 30 mile commute is going to give me range anxiety..and I’ll eventually have to buy a new battery.

[Neidermeyer]

How could Nissan DO THIS WITHOUT massive government subsidies and bailouts?
******************************************
Zero down Zero out of pocket heavily subsidized lease deals...