SanDust said:
Statik said:
Irregardless, with Sunderland now (slowly) producing packs, and a model year changeover in 2 months, the demand level will get tested by summer's end, and we get a better picture just what that is. (imo)
The situation you're outlining here isn't what you outlined in your article. Your article suggested that there was a wave of demand which couldn't be fulfilled because of limited battery production. What you're saying here is that limited battery production has precluded Nissan from getting Leafs on dealer lots, and this lack of inventory has constrained demand. These are different situations which pose different problems. The most obvious conclusion would be that while simply producing more cars in one scenario would automatically lead to higher sales this wouldn't automatically happen in the other.
As I've said, no quarrel with the idea that in the US you sell more if you have more inventory. But I don't think just having Leafs on the lot is going to move units. I can't see someone coming in to look at a Versa or an Altima and walking out with a Leaf. It's just too different and range limited for the vast majority of consumers. Dealers are going to have to learn how to market the car as well.
I meant the same thing, perhaps I worded it badly.
However, I regard the general population's desire to buy the car off a dealer and the frenzied internet-buyer demand to be one in the same. Demand is demand. My father-in-law loves my electric cars, he says he wants one...but he is NOT going to do anything online, he wants to see them on the lot and buy it there. Thats what he always has done.
He is not alone in this sentiment, I would say 95% of the new car buying public won't buy a car, sight unseen, on the internet, at full MSRP, with things like
"the dealer will get back to you on financing when the car comes in." They just won't.
Most people aren't going to jump through hoops like that and bend over for Nissan (or any OEM), however that doesn't mean they don't want the car, and as you say 'they aren't going to go out and buy an Altima instead' they want to plug something in.
But, I do guarantee you that producing and shipping more LEAFs to the US and stocking dealerships nationwide would have a huge effect on sales, much more than 300-500 units sold a month. It just makes sense in this scenario.
As I mentioned, a huge portion of the population still want the car, but they want to stroll down to their dealership, kick the tires, take it for a spin, see it in 5 colors and in both trim levels, then go into the manger's office and feel like if they beat down the MSRP for $500, $1,000, floormats, w/e, they are a winner. They just can't do that now, but that is how 99% of all cars are sold.
Again, I have no clue what the ongoing demand is for the car over time. But I would wager if a dozen 2013 LEAFs showed up at every dealership in late August, Nissan would sell 2,500+ of them a month for at least a couple months to end out the year
Then again, I could be completely wrong, just my opinion...time will tell.