The prestigious Car of the Year award is given each year to a vehicle that captured public attention while meeting high standards of performance. Few vehicles can challenge the Nissan LEAF EV in either category, which led the award committee to select this innovative vehicle as the 2011 Car of the Year. This honor was given to the Nissan LEAF EV because the vehicle is considered the first model to combine all-electric propulsion with high performance. Nissan was previously selected by the Car of the Year committee in 1993 for the Micra, a diminutive car that was the blueprint for European compact cars over the past two decades.
The Nissan LEAF EV is the first all-electric vehicle to be honored with the Car of the Year selection. This award is determined by a jury of 57 auto industry experts and journalists throughout the European continent. The vehicle’s competitors came from established European automakers like Citroen, Opel and Volvo that have dominated the awards since 1963. A mark in Nissan’s favor among European auto experts is the ongoing partnership with French automaker Renault on global efforts at sustainable transportation.
Nissan’s victory in the Car of the Year contest is a bit surprising due to the scheduled European rollout starting in March 2011. The Japanese automaker has begun deliveries in the United States and Japan this month with expanded rollouts in both countries by January 2011. Consumers in Ireland, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Portugal will need to wait for LEAF EVs until the first quarter of 2011. Nissan announced plans for manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada and the European Union by 2013 to meet anticipated demand. The Car of the Year jury surely viewed Nissan’s ambitious rollout plans as an indicator of the LEAF EV’s readiness for the market.
The proven performance of the Nissan LEAF EV in myriad road tests and demonstrations was the primary reason for Car of the Year honors. Nissan has touted the vehicle’s 108-mile range as well as a maximum speed of 90 miles per hour to show the balance of utility and power. Industry insiders and journalists alike are also eager for green vehicles that can stand up to the best models built by European automakers. The LEAF EV did not receive the 2011 Car of the Year because of potential but eco-friendly performance welcomed by European consumers.
