And Now, A Chevrolet Volt VS Nissan Leaf Sales Update

Since the Chevrolet Volt and and Nissan Volt first went on sale in 2010, our kind friends at Autoblog have been keeping a watchful eye on the sales race between the two first ever plug-in vehicles from major automakers.

Initially, the Chevrolet Volt opened to a monumental lead, but with each passing year, the Nissan Leaf has chipped away ever so slightly at its lead in the race. The Volt outsold the leaf 23,461 to 9,819 in 2012, something GM needed badly with such a rocky beginning to the nameplate.

But since November of 2013, the Leaf has quietly been plugging along (see what we did there?) to outsell the Volt each month. It was only a matter of time before the Nissan Leaf stole the plug-in crown, but the Chevrolet Volt will get one more month to wear this fictional crown we’re describing. Maybe it has electrical sockets on it, or something…

Anyways, from the time both cars went on sale until February 2015 the Nissan Leaf has sold 74,590 units. The Chevrolet Volt? Merely two more at 74,592. Not helping the Volt’s numbers was a weak showing of only 693 sold in the month of February, while the Leaf found 1,198 new homes.

The 693 units represents a 47 percent decrease in Volt sales from this time last year of 1,210, but as we’ve pointed out previously, the incoming 2016 Chevrolet Volt is no doubt holding serious buyers back. Unless you’re looking for a killer deal on a PHEV, waiting for the 2016 Volt is the best bet, even if this means canibalizing current Volt sales.

Former GM Authority staff writer.

Sean Szymkowski

Former GM Authority staff writer.

View Comments

  • The "If gas powered everything" LEAF ad was great. Smoke billowing computers and kitchen appliances, two stroke IPods, and.... someone filling up his electric Volt at the gas station.

  • To all the Leaf drivers out there. Have fun with that range axiety. The advertised total range numbers on the Nissan Leaf are typically "80-100 miles" Real world numbers are barely half that. The 9 gallon gas tank on the Volt pushes total range numbers to 300-350 miles all day, depending on driving habits and temperature. The Volt helped pioneer the EV automobile age and it will be exciting to see what will become of it these next few decades.

    • My mistake, real worlds numbers are accurate in the US. Leaf will go 80 miles, Europe states 100+ which is so wrong.

    • I guess it depends on what "getting creamed" and "junk" means to you. I got a 2014 Volt for an effective price of about $24,000.
      No better car for me at that price range, so I don't feel "creamed."
      It has performed flawlessly during its first 7,500 miles, so can't call it "junk."

  • I've never thought comparing sales numbers of an all electric vs the Volt gas/electric was a fair comparison. I think both have their appeal but the target audience of customers a very different. As a supporter of transitioning to clean energy i want both of these fine vehicles to do well! The competition is great, but in the long run figuring out the best way to transition to "cleaner" energy should remain the focus IMHO.

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