Used Nissan Leafs in short supply, prices up

Anyone waiting for imported second-hand Nissan Leaf pricing to drop will be disappointed.

A supply shortage in Japan and increased sale prices there have led to some New Zealand car dealerships adding about $2000 to $3000 to their Leaf prices as a result.

“We’ve noticed prices have gone up hundreds of thousands of yen,” says Nelson Cottle of Auto Court in Dunedin.

He says people coming in expecting to get a similar price on a Leaf to their friends who bought one earlier are finding they have to pay more.

Cottle says there’s “nothing left” in the yard and Leafs being shipped from Japan have all been sold bar one.

“Last year, we had 25 Leafs on the yard and more on the water from Japan.”

He expected a “flood” of trade-ins in Japan after the new Leaf came out late last year, helping keep prices down. “But it’s been the opposite.”

Cottle wonders if there’s been a price correction as the Leaf had depreciated in Japan last year quicker than he expected.

The dealership is targeting 2016 30kWh Leafs under about 10,000km, around grade five, on selling for about $30,000 (previously about $27,500) but is struggling to buy them.

Despite the price rise, EVs are selling “extremely well”, Cottle says.

Henry Schmidt of Autolink Cars in Auckland says he’s never seen a price increase like this in used imported vehicles during nearly 40 years in the business.

“It’s rare to go this way.

“Prices went up in Japan before Christmas and now we are having to add up to $2000 or $3000 to the price of a 30kW Leaf.”

He says they’re in short supply, yet demand is growing.

Schmidt believes more New Zealand dealers are also seeking Leafs from Japan, which could be contributing.

“I can’t see prices coming down for a while because of the demand.”

GVI general manager Hayden Johnston says that could change.

He says a fleet of Leafs was put up for auction in Japan yesterday, expected to be snapped up.

“Prices have gone up and we’re having to pay more for the vehicles.”