Following a record-breaking sales year in 2014, the Nissan LEAF continues to earn praise and was named the best Non-Luxury Traditional Compact Car in the annual IHS Automotive Loyalty Awards.
The all-electric LEAF – the only plug-in vehicle to be included in the IHS Awards – received this honor during the Automotive News World Congress at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The IHS Automotive Loyalty Awards are presented annually to automakers and brands that demonstrate a manufacturer’s ability to retain owners over repeat buying cycles. They are the only fact-based awards of their kind in the industry.
Nissan, the world leader in electric vehicle sales, shattered the plug-in vehicle sales record with 30,200 LEAF vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2014, marking the first time any plug-in has sold more than 30,000 units in a single year.
“Since entering the market in 2010, the Nissan LEAF has steadily gained supporters throughout the U.S.,” said Toby Perry, director of marketing for Nissan LEAF. “While the majority of original buyers were electric vehicle enthusiasts, we’re now seeing more and more ‘regular’ car buyers fall in love with LEAF because of its many financial benefits, fun-to-drive nature and roomy interior. Our LEAF fans are some of the most loyal customers in the world, and we’re thrilled to see that validated with this IHS award.”
With seating for up to five passengers, the all-electric Nissan LEAF boasts an EPA-estimated driving range of 84 miles and MPGe ratings of 126 city, 101 highway and 114 combined.
The starting price of a Nissan LEAF is about $22,000 after the available maximum $7,500 federal tax credit, and LEAF offers the benefits of lower running costs and less scheduled maintenance. LEAF offers a wide range of standard equipment plus a variety of available premium features such as leather seats, 17-inch alloy wheels and 7-speaker BOSE energy efficient audio system.
IHS Automotive analyzes loyalty throughout the year and regularly works with its customers to effectively manage owner loyalty and conquest efforts through in-depth research and analysis of automotive shopping behaviors, related market influencers and conquest and retention strategies. Loyalty is determined when a household that owns a new vehicle returns to market and purchases or leases another new vehicle of the same make, model or manufacturer.
