Key Japanese model's comeback could be delayed: 2026 Nissan Leaf could be impacted by battery shortages ahead of important MG4 and BYD Dolphin rival’s arrival

Nissan’s upcoming third-generation Leaf — which swaps from a traditional hatchback to a more contemporary coupe crossover in shape — has already been impacted by battery shortages at a supplier according to new reports.

As a result the company has slashed its production targets for the new model, according to Reuters and Nikkei.

The targets were not specified, but are in the region of several thousand units a month. This comes with the caveat that it impacts the brand’s Japanese Togichi plant and seemingly not the brand’s UK plant in Sunderland, which will produce the new car for some other markets. The previous-generation Leaf was sourced from Sunderland.

Responding to CarsGuide’s questions on whether these supplier shortages might impact the planned Australian launch, the brand said in a statement: “The Leaf is progressing on schedule toward its planned launch. Sales are expected to begin in the United States in fall 2025 with deliveries in Japan within the year and in Europe around Spring 2026.”

The brand offered no comment on what it called “speculative reports”.

Nissan’s Australian division is yet to confirm from where it will source the Leaf for our market, although the new model has previously been confirmed for an Australian launch during the Japanese 2026 financial year, which spans from April 2026 to March 2027.

Overseas the new model is priced below the entry price-tag of the outgoing car (costing the equivalent of $46,500 in the US, where it is impacted by a 10 per cent import tariff). Models delivered to the US initially start with a significantly higher specification and more range than the old Leaf e+, with a 75kWh battery pack now delivering up to 488km of range (to the US EPA standard), while an even more affordable version with a 52kWh battery pack is expected to arrive at a later date.

On the inside standard features include dual screens (in either 12.3 or 14.3-inch size), connected services, sustainable interior trims and even vehicle-to-load capabilities. 

The new Leaf is equipped with a 160kW/355Nm electric motor, 150kW DC charging and up to 11kW on AC. It can charge from 15 - 80 per cent in 30 minutes at the maximum DC speed.

After being an early leader in the EV space with its first and then second-generation Leaf, recent years of well-publicised issues have delayed Nissan’s further expansion into the electrified space.

The brand has had some success with its e-Power hybrids, but an order of magnitude less than rivals like Toyota, Hyundai and BYD.

After significant delays since its 2022 global launch, the Ariya mid-size SUV has finally launched in Australia, priced from $55,840 before on-roads, which places it competitively against direct rivals like the Kia EV5, BYD Sealion 7, Volkswagen ID.4, and Toyota bZ4X. It is significantly more expensive than entry-level newcomers, the Geely EX5 and Leapmotor C10.

Whether the new Leaf can be as competitive when it arrives remains to be seen, although it will go into battle in a much more competitive small SUV segment, which includes the BYD Atto 3, MG S5, and GWM Ora.