Nissan Leaf Buyers, A Closer Look

The 2011 Nissan Leaf EV is a revolutionary car for Nissan's 2011 line up. Nissan has never produced a car like this one which has raised some concern, what type of person is Nissan targeting with a car like this? Well, celebrities for one. Bill Nye The Science Guy will be driving one soon. So will Alyssa Milano and Lance Armstrong. But what about non-celebrity types?

A study done by Nissan shows that your average age for a new Leaf driver is 45 years old, many of which are those who already own and share experiences with hybrid or electric cars.

Another important fact to take into account from this research - the average annual income of a Nissan Leaf EV driver is around $125,000.

"We're learning more about them," Mark Perry, Nissan director of product planning, said of the Leaf buyers. "They are very tech savvy, they are college educated and most drive less than 50 miles per day. Home ownership is a big component of the profile. And they've got garages."

Nissan began taking orders for the Leaf on August 31. So far, over 19,000 people have put down a $99 deposit to reserve a Leaf electric vehicle.

The demographic profile of the Leaf buyer also reveals that the two prime motivators for buying is "energy independence" and "environmental consciousness," Perry said, citing buyer surveys. The Leaf buyers tend to have several vehicles. Mostly foreign hybrid cars, Perry stated.

An overwhelming majority of Leaf buyers, 75% to be exact, are opting for the top-of-the-line SL trim level, which starts at $33,500, including shipping and before any federal or state tax credits or rebates.

Want to know where you can check out this revolutionary car from Nissan? Contact Jim Johnson Nissan - 2200 Scottsville Road Bowling Green, Kentucky 42104.