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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Japanese_Flag_30x22.jpg Japanese carmaker Nissan Motor Co has had some delays in delivering its Leaf electric automobile to U.S. customers, the Financial Times reported on its website on Sunday (http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/07/us-nissan-idUSTRE7152AI20110207?feedType=RSS&feedName=GCA-GreenBusiness&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FUSgreenbusinessNe)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2011_Nissan_LEAF3.jpgPhil Wahba - REUTERS (http://www.reuters.com) - Feb 7th, 2011

Nissan and its partner Renault SA, formally launched the zero emissions Leaf vehicle in December.

Nissan acknowledged bottlenecks in its quality assurance procedures and distribution delays because of the Leaf's Internet-based ordering system, which bypasses U.S. dealers, the Financial Times reported, citing Nissan's U.S. spokesman David Reuter.

He did not immediately return a request from Reuters to comment on the report.

Nissan expects the congestion to ease by April but said production was on schedule, the Financial Times reported.

Nissan and Renault have earmarked $5 billion over the next few years to mass-produce electric vehicles and the batteries that power them.... http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/07/us-nissan-idUSTRE7152AI20110207?feedType=RSS&feedName=GCA-GreenBusiness&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FUSgreenbusinessNe

The cynical view is that Nissan are dedicating production to the Japanese market so buyers there can get the subsidies that are going to expire. Once that's done they'll be able to shift focus to the USA.

Although I did see one on the road (!) just the other day, my coworker was early in line for one and says Nissan still hasn't given him a firm date. Apparently ECOTality gets the charging station installed first, before Nissan will deliver your car. They haven't contacted him yet, so he figures he must be at least 2-3 months out.

in a few months all the whiners about LEAF supplies will feel foolish.. they would feel better if Nissan had stockpiled LEAFs for several months to have an adequate supply at launch.