The Reinvention of the Third-Generation Nissan Leaf

Photo Source: NISSAN

When it debuted in 2011, the Nissan Leaf was revolutionary. It was one of the first affordable electric vehicles that appealed to consumers on a mass scale. By the end of 2023, the automaker delivered over 670,000 units worldwide, including more than 184,000 in the United States. The second-generation model launched in 2018 with more power and improved range and utility. 

However, there is a new Leaf on the horizon. Nissan’s third-generation compact electric vehicle could drive off the line in March 2025, suggesting a reveal is imminent. The manufacturer has remained tight-lipped about the all-new Leaf, but Nissan has continued to invest heavily into its Sunderland factory in the United Kingdom as it ramps up to begin production of the new Leaf electric vehicle, as well as next-generation and fully-electrified variants of the Qashqai and Juke SUVs.

Design Details of the 2025 Leaf

The new Leaf will reportedly take styling cues from the 2021 Chill-Out concept, a polished-looking crossover with a broad, stacked grille and wing-shaped lights on its outer edges. The roofline had a simple arch, and there was subtle sculpting along the flanks. The rear even had a clear panel with tail lights embedded in it, but that is unlikely to make it to production. Otherwise, most of these design cues should carry over.

The Influence of the Sunderland Factory

The Sunderland plant has been a staple in Nissan’s manufacturing arm since 1986, having built some of the brand’s most popular models, such as the Bluebird and Leaf. For the immediate future, the updated Nissan Juke and Qashqai have benefited greatly from the ample investment into the Sunderland factory, with the carmaker claiming the plant boasts some of the highest quality check and lowest tolerance standards in all of Europe. That said, production trials of the new Leaf will begin in August (2024) and run for six months. 

If all goes according to plan, the line will be prepared to take its first Leaf models from as early as March next year (2025), so the unveiling of the vehicle will likely occur toward the end of the 2024 model year. As mentioned, Nissan has a vested interest in continuing to assemble automobiles in the United Kingdom, but it is not without hardships, according to Senior Vice President for Manufacturing Alan Johnson: “We can just about justify continuing operations here, but it is not easy. It’s a real challenge.”

Project EV36Zero

The transformation of the Sunderland location, an endeavor dubbed EV36Zero, includes the construction of a second battery factory immediately adjacent to the Sunderland site to supply batteries for the next Leaf, and a third gigafactory also planned nearby. Interestingly, they will be run by Envision, Nissan’s Chinese associate. Within the factory itself, the former Leaf battery assembly line is being converted for the electric Juke, expected to arrive in 2027. In the meantime, the manufacturer will have to make substantial modifications, such as upgrading the car carriers on its production lines to accommodate the bulky weight of electric vehicles.

“Significant changes are needed to open up a line that has been building ICE cars for over 30 years,” declared Guy Reid, engineering manager at Nissan Sunderland.

Support Electrification with the Leaf at Southern Team Nissan of New River Valley!

Even though reports announced that local production of the Leaf would end at the Smyrna, Tennessee plant, rumors indicate that manufacturing of the Leaf could continue in the United States. Such claims have yet to be confirmed, though. If you want to keep track of the progress surrounding the Nissan Leaf, please come visit Southern Team Nissan of New River Valley. We can help sell your current vehicle or bring it back to life like new with an online service appointment to our service center. Allow our professional technicians to get started on all repairs or maintenance work.