The Nissan LEAF outsold GMs’ Chevrolet Volt in August for the fifth consecutive month (April, May, June, July and August).
Nissan and GM reported respective sales of 1,362 LEAF EVs and 302 Volt plug-in hybrids last month.
For Nissan, this gives it a total of 6,168 LEAF electric cars sold to date this year. GM, meanwhile, reported year to date sales figures of the Volt at 3,172 cars.
GM says the decline in sales is mostly because the plant where Volt is produced has been shut down for upgrading. GM expects to sell around 16,000 Volts by the end of the year in all 50 states now that the plant has re-opened. In 2012, Volt is expected to reach a global production capacity of 60,000 vehicles, with 45,000 of to be sold in the U.S.
Nissan has said 20,000 people have put down $99 deposits to be put on a waiting list for the car. Japan’s second-largest carmaker, aiming to be the world’s largest seller of electric cars, expects to deliver as many as 12,000 LEAF electric cars to U.S. customers this year.