Nissan Motor Co., aiming to be the world's largest seller of electric cars, expects to deliver as many as 12,000 battery-powered Leaf hatchbacks to U.S. customers this year as orders are confirmed and production quickens.
The carmaker sold 1,142 Leafs in the U.S. last month, the most since it began shipping them in December. Deliveries should continue at that pace, totaling between 10,000 and 12,000 by the end of the year, Al Castignetti, Nissan's vice president of U.S. sales, said in an interview Wednesday.
"That's a reasonable figure," Castignetti said. "We're very positive about this program. It's different than anything we've ever done, launching the car in three global markets at the same time. We knew it wasn't going to be easy."