The electric crossover Ariya debuted in production form back in 2020, but its arrival at dealerships was delayed due to technological issues at the plant in Tochigi. Only in 2023 did the manufacturer establish stable deliveries, which affected the model's commercial results in the US. The situation was complicated by significant import duties on foreign cars and the expiration of federal tax credits for electric vehicle owners.
Despite this, demand for the Ariya grew: in the first six months of 2025, American dealers found owners for 11,619 vehicles — 24.3% more than in the same period the previous year. Customers were offered versions with batteries of 63 or 87 kWh, which provided a range of 348 to 465 kilometers per EPA cycle. The power of the electric motors ranged from 218 to 394 horsepower.
To replace the Ariya, the company is preparing a fundamentally new Leaf, which it plans to position as the most affordable electric vehicle in the US — its starting price will be $29,990. For comparison, the base price of the Ariya starts at $39,770.
However, there are obstacles here too: the debut of the new Leaf may be delayed due to a shortage of traction batteries supplied by AESC. How quickly this problem can be resolved will determine whether Nissan can win back the mass buyer in the electric segment.
