Nissan has delivered its 100,000th electric vehicle in the UK, handing an all-new, all-electric MICRA to a Lancashire couple 15 years after introducing the LEAF to British motorists. The handover took place at Chorley Group’s Nissan dealership in Chorley, Lancashire, where buyers Ron and Gillian Ainsworth took delivery of the milestone car, finished in Rebel Red. The sale caps a 15-year run in which Nissan built its UK electric lineup around the MICRA, the updated ARIYA crossover, and a third-generation LEAF due in showrooms later this summer. James Taylor, Managing Director of Nissan Motor GB, said the milestone reflects the automaker’s electrification strategy in Britain.
Highlights
- Nissan delivered its 100,000th UK electric vehicle 15 years after the first LEAF reached British customers in March 2011.
- The milestone car is an all-new, all-electric MICRA finished in Rebel Red, handed to Ron and Gillian Ainsworth at Nissan Chorley.
- The third-generation LEAF has already been named Auto Express Car of the Year for 2026 ahead of its arrival in showrooms later this summer.
- Nissan’s UK electric range now spans the MICRA, LEAF and ARIYA passenger models plus two electric commercial vans, the Townstar EV and Interstar-e.
A Landmark Handover at Nissan Chorley
Adam Gradwell, Client Experience Specialist at Chorley Nissan, handed the keys to the Ainsworths himself. “We are incredibly proud to be the dealer group that delivered this very special electric vehicle. All-New MICRA has proved very popular since its arrival earlier this year. Customers love its sporty styling and fun driving dynamics, and with fuel prices rising significantly this year, the popularity of EVs has increased rapidly. MICRA is the perfect choice for anyone interested in going electric for the first time, as well as those continuing their EV journey,” Gradwell said.
The Ainsworths had no idea their purchase would make automotive history. “We are delighted with our new MICRA. It’s our first electric vehicle and we love everything about it. It drives beautifully, it’s comfortable and spacious, and it looks great. We were attracted to the MICRA partly because of the positive reviews we read and we’ve not been disappointed. Many congratulations to Nissan on selling their 100,000th electric vehicle in the UK,” Mrs. Ainsworth said.
James Taylor, Managing Director of Nissan Motor GB, said: “We are incredibly proud to have led the way in automotive electrification for 15 years and it’s wonderful to have notched up 100,000 EV sales in the UK. Between the new MICRA and LEAF and the just-updated ARIYA, plus our two electric LCVs, Nissan has a strong electric line-up, with every model delivering affordability, innovation and everyday practicality. We hope Mr and Mrs Ainsworth will enjoy many happy years of motoring in their new car.”
15 Years of UK Electrification
The MICRA, LEAF and ARIYA all qualify for the UK government’s Electric Car Grant, Nissan said.
LEAF
Nissan describes the LEAF, delivered to British customers beginning in March 2011, as the world’s first mass-market electric vehicle. The company reports the first-generation car delivered a real-world range of about 109 miles. A second-generation update arrived in early 2018 with more dynamic styling and ProPILOT driver-assistance technology. The third-generation LEAF, engineered and built in Britain, has already been named Auto Express Car of the Year for 2026 and is due in showrooms later this summer.
ARIYA
Nissan launched the ARIYA crossover in 2022 with Japanese-inspired design, a premium cabin and, according to the company, a range of well over 300 miles. The model won Auto Express Car of the Year for 2022. For 2026, Nissan gave the ARIYA a comprehensive refresh focused on updated technology, design and everyday usability.
MICRA
The sixth generation of the MICRA nameplate has been reborn as a pure electric city car. What Car? described it as “a brilliant small electric hatchback” and awarded it a maximum five-star rating.
Commercial Vehicles
Nissan has also been electrifying its van lineup, moving from the e-NV200 introduced in 2014 to today’s Townstar EV and the Interstar-e, the company’s first fully electric large van.
Building the Electric Vehicles in Britain
Nissan employs about 7,000 people in the UK, including at its design center in Paddington, London, and its R&D engineering center in Cranfield. The Sunderland plant, the UK’s largest single car factory, builds the Juke and Qashqai and recently added the all-new MICRA, designed in Paddington, along with the European-spec new LEAF. Both models are part of Nissan’s EV36Zero project, which combines vehicle assembly, battery manufacturing and renewable energy generation at the Sunderland site.
What Comes Next
Alongside the third-generation LEAF, Nissan’s UK product pipeline will expand with the first-ever JUKE EV, which will be built alongside the LEAF at Sunderland, and an ultra-compact A-segment model aimed at city driving.
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