Gavin
Well-known member
A way to get seen in a few more states without having to spend a lot of money.
I know that Nissan is planning at the beginning to roll out the LEAF in December in only 5 areas (10 cities?). And I understand why. And I even agree with it.
But I do think Nissan could do one thing that would take just a bit of work, but could give some long term benefit...ie, help sales with the national ramp up come 2011 through 2012.
Pick a person from a number of states that is not one of the roll-out states. This could be fairly easy to do:
The set up.
These people will have to be from a good sized city. At least 100k, preferably with a college.
They will have to live within 25 miles of a Nissan dealership.
They will have a home with a garage and either have a home charging system or agree to get one installed.
The will have a daily commute of less than 50 miles.
They will have to be well versed in EVs and the pros and cons.
They will have to agree to....well I will leave that for the next list just below **....
The pay-off.
Nissan will get the LEAF seen in more cities, more states. And quickly. I see tons of Nissan LEAF ads...which is GREAT. But what use is all the national ads if most states won't see a single LEAF for 2 years? Eyes on by the consumer is a big big deal. Seeing them working, running everyday, out on the road will calm lots of worries, will kill a lot of the FUD you know the gas cartel will be pushing.
Local Dealerships will get to see a LEAF, touch a LEAF, have some mild hands on experience with the LEAF before they have to see and service tons of them...gives them a nice slow pace to get up to speed on this new tech.
Info Info Info. Nissan can tell these "out of roll-out area" owners that they must give either weekly reports or weekly blogs to Nissan about the LEAF. How it works in each area. Range in certain climates, at certain elevations etc etc.
**Eyes on Eyes on Eyes on. Nissan can make it a provision that one Saturday a month this LEAF needs to spend a few hours at the local Nissan dealer so the Dealer can let the public see it. Eyes seeing the LEAF on the road is great. Eyes seeing the LEAF sitting in a showroom is just as great. Customers can see it close up, ask lots of questions etc etc.
Early adopters are great "tools" (I say that affectionately). Use them. They want to promote EVs. They want to brag about EVs. To show them off. To inform the public about them. The Good. The Bad. The GREAT. So one Saturday a month those dealerships can promote that they will have a Nissan LEAF in the showroom for the public to see and learn about. The LEAF owner, as part of the agreement for getting a LEAF at roll-out vs having to wait a year or two, would have to agree to get the car to the shop by 11am...the shop can wash and vaccum the car and then get it in the showroom from noon to 4pm...then they clean it again and the owner gets it back by 5pm...nice and clean and fully charged. A win win. And I can't imagine any early adopter not agreeing to this. And if they didn't, well I'm sure the second in line at that city will.
Long story short, Yes Nissan get 98% of your roll-out LEAFs into those 5 roll-out states. But then do a small amount of leg work, poll some people here or from your reservation list, and get 2% of the roll out LEAFS into 10 or 20 other states. True it will be a very small number, but it will actually produce great press and free advertising in those 10 to 20 states. Far beyond the minimal work required to make this happen.
Your dealerships get free press and foot traffic, the early adopter will be well versed in EVs and prepared if chosen well and you get tons of easy info on how the LEAF does in many different sites and climates and such.
As I said...Win Win.
I can easily recommend a person in Iowa and a person in New Mexico. And I'm sure we can find a person in Texas, Colorado, Flordia and tons of other states.
Thanks
Gavin
ps...if you make it two from each "add-on" state/city, well then, with the same agreement, you can have a LEAF in the showroom every other Saturday.
I know that Nissan is planning at the beginning to roll out the LEAF in December in only 5 areas (10 cities?). And I understand why. And I even agree with it.
But I do think Nissan could do one thing that would take just a bit of work, but could give some long term benefit...ie, help sales with the national ramp up come 2011 through 2012.
Pick a person from a number of states that is not one of the roll-out states. This could be fairly easy to do:
The set up.
These people will have to be from a good sized city. At least 100k, preferably with a college.
They will have to live within 25 miles of a Nissan dealership.
They will have a home with a garage and either have a home charging system or agree to get one installed.
The will have a daily commute of less than 50 miles.
They will have to be well versed in EVs and the pros and cons.
They will have to agree to....well I will leave that for the next list just below **....
The pay-off.
Nissan will get the LEAF seen in more cities, more states. And quickly. I see tons of Nissan LEAF ads...which is GREAT. But what use is all the national ads if most states won't see a single LEAF for 2 years? Eyes on by the consumer is a big big deal. Seeing them working, running everyday, out on the road will calm lots of worries, will kill a lot of the FUD you know the gas cartel will be pushing.
Local Dealerships will get to see a LEAF, touch a LEAF, have some mild hands on experience with the LEAF before they have to see and service tons of them...gives them a nice slow pace to get up to speed on this new tech.
Info Info Info. Nissan can tell these "out of roll-out area" owners that they must give either weekly reports or weekly blogs to Nissan about the LEAF. How it works in each area. Range in certain climates, at certain elevations etc etc.
**Eyes on Eyes on Eyes on. Nissan can make it a provision that one Saturday a month this LEAF needs to spend a few hours at the local Nissan dealer so the Dealer can let the public see it. Eyes seeing the LEAF on the road is great. Eyes seeing the LEAF sitting in a showroom is just as great. Customers can see it close up, ask lots of questions etc etc.
Early adopters are great "tools" (I say that affectionately). Use them. They want to promote EVs. They want to brag about EVs. To show them off. To inform the public about them. The Good. The Bad. The GREAT. So one Saturday a month those dealerships can promote that they will have a Nissan LEAF in the showroom for the public to see and learn about. The LEAF owner, as part of the agreement for getting a LEAF at roll-out vs having to wait a year or two, would have to agree to get the car to the shop by 11am...the shop can wash and vaccum the car and then get it in the showroom from noon to 4pm...then they clean it again and the owner gets it back by 5pm...nice and clean and fully charged. A win win. And I can't imagine any early adopter not agreeing to this. And if they didn't, well I'm sure the second in line at that city will.
Long story short, Yes Nissan get 98% of your roll-out LEAFs into those 5 roll-out states. But then do a small amount of leg work, poll some people here or from your reservation list, and get 2% of the roll out LEAFS into 10 or 20 other states. True it will be a very small number, but it will actually produce great press and free advertising in those 10 to 20 states. Far beyond the minimal work required to make this happen.
Your dealerships get free press and foot traffic, the early adopter will be well versed in EVs and prepared if chosen well and you get tons of easy info on how the LEAF does in many different sites and climates and such.
As I said...Win Win.
I can easily recommend a person in Iowa and a person in New Mexico. And I'm sure we can find a person in Texas, Colorado, Flordia and tons of other states.
Thanks
Gavin
ps...if you make it two from each "add-on" state/city, well then, with the same agreement, you can have a LEAF in the showroom every other Saturday.