The next-gen Nissan LEAF will not be made in the US. Nissan will build the new model in the UK, but the affordable EV risks losing IRA tax credit eligibility.
Nissan confirmed it will build the next-gen LEAF at its Sunderland, UK plant, alongside two new electric SUVs last week.
The Juke and Qashqai, two of Nissan’s top-selling SUVs in Europe, are also going electric. Nissan announced an up to £3bn ($3.8B) investment to build the three new EVs at the plant.
As one of the first mass-market EVs, Nissan’s LEAF was a pioneer. However, with battery and other tech developments, more advanced EVs have stolen the compact electric cars shine.
The LEAF was the best-selling EV (cumulatively) until Tesla’s Model 3 overtook it in early 2020. Model 3 deliveries began in 2017, and it became the top-selling model in 2018 and 2019.
LEAF sales continue to slide amid new competition. Sales are down significantly this year in every major market through September, including the US (-37%), Europe (28%), and Japan (-15%).
The next-gen LEAF will be the first of the three new EVs built at its Sunderland factory. According to Automotive News Europe, it will launch at the end of next year.
Nissan Chill-Out concept (Source: Nissan)
Nissan pulls next-gen LEAF production from the US
With plans to build the new LEAF in the UK, where does that leave North America? Sources told Automotive News that Nissan does not plan to build the new LEAF in the US.
The LEAF kicked off a new era as the first mass-market EV in the US, but production of the current model is expected to end in 2025.
The decision could set the LEAF further back than it already is. Nissan’s LEAF is known as an affordable EV, yet the company plans a drastic makeover.
Nissan will release the next-gen LEAF as a crossover coupe SUV to make it more competitive. It will include a sleeker, lower design to avoid competing with its other electric crossovers.
Nissan’s first global electric SUV, the Ariya (Source: Nissan)
A source from Nissan said the design is closer to the Ariya, the company’s first electric SUV. Another said it was a “mini Ariya.” Nissan said it has already been previewed in its Chill-Out concept.
The Chill-Out concept is a “mobile haven,” according to Nissan. It features advanced safety tech and a comfortable interior. The concept is based on the CMF-EV platform, which powers the Ariya. It also includes Nissan’s e-4ORCE electric 4WD control system.
Nissan Chill-Out concept (Source: Nissan)
Nissan’s new LEAF will look nothing like the current generation with a complete design change. It will also feature 25% more range, Nissan told retailers.
However, how popular will the new Nissan LEAF be in the US without the tax credit? Importing the model from the UK would lose its eligibility for an up to $7,500 credit.
One dealer said the subsidy is critical for a brand like Nissan with a “price-sensitive” customer base. “Without that tax incentive, it will be extremely difficult to compete in the United States,” the dealer said.
Nissan Chill Out concept (Source: Nissan)
They added, “We have one hand tied behind our back when selling these EVs.” The dealer went as far as to say, “Why would we even bring this car to the United States?” without tax credit eligibility.
Electrek’s Take
Nissan, which was once viewed as a leader in the EV industry with the launch of the LEAF in 2010, has fallen behind.
The automaker is vowing to make a comeback with a nearly $18 billion investment to launch 15 new EVs globally by 2030. Nissan is also investing $500 million in its Canton, Miss plant to prepare for EV production.
As per Nissan’s production schedule, the first EVs will be a pair of sedans in 2026. The LEAF replacement is expected to launch in the US in 2025.
Without the tax credit, however, Nissan will face stiff competition. Nissan has sold just over 10,000 LEAF models in the US through September.
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Hyundai’s first three-row electric SUV is finally here, and it’s even better than we expected. The IONIQ 9 arrives with “class-leading” interior space, up to 335 miles of range, and much more. Hyundai is showing off just how spacious the IONIQ 9 really is.
Hyundai highlights how spacious the 3-row IONIQ 9 is
It’s been less than two months since the first IONIQ 9 models rolled off the assembly line at Hyundai’s massive new manufacturing plant in Georgia.
With its first three-row electric SUV about to reach dealerships any day, Hyundai wants you to know that the IONIQ 9 is spacious enough for just about anyone.
“The IONIQ 9 is more than just a vehicle; it’s a space where life happens,” Hyundai Motor America’s marketing chief, Sean Gilpin, explained.
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Hyundai launched a new ad campaign on Friday, ” Space to Connect, ” to highlight the SUV’s class-leading interior space.
With the second and third-row seats folded, the IONIQ 9 boasts up to 2,462 liters (87 cubic feet) of interior cargo space. That’s even more than the 2025 Ford Explorer with up to 2,429 liters (85.8 cubic feet). With all seats upright, the IONIQ 9 still has 620 liters of cargo capacity.
It’s not only spacious, but the IONIQ 9’s interior is packed with Hyundai’s most advanced software and connectivity tech.
As part of a curved panoramic display, the infotainment system includes dual 12″ driver display and infotainment screens.
Earlier this month, Hyundai announced that the 2026 IONIQ 9 will start at $58,995. With a $1,600 destination fee, the base RWD S model, which has a range of up to 335 miles, also starts at $60,555.
For $64,365 (including destination), you can upgrade to the AWD SE model with 303 horsepower and 320 miles range. Meanwhile, the range-topping IONIQ 9 AWD Performance Calligraphy Design trim, which gets added Matte paint, 21″ wheels, and 311 miles driving range, starts at $78,090.
2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 Model
EV Powertrain
Drivetrain
Driving Range (miles)
Starting Price (including destination fee)
IONIQ 9 RWD S
160-kW (215-HP) Electric Motor
Rear- Wheel Drive
335
$60,555
IONIQ 9 AWD SE
226.1 kW (303-HP) Dual Electric Motors
All-Wheel Drive
320
$64,365
IONIQ 9 AWD SEL
226.1-kW (303-HP) Dual Electric Motors
All-Wheel Drive
320
$67,920
IONIQ 9 AWD PERFORMANCE LIMITED
314.6-kW (422-HP) Dual Electric Motors
All-Wheel Drive
311
$72,850
IONIQ 9 AWD PERFORMANCE CALLIGRAPHY
314.6-kW (422-HP) Dual Electric Motors
All-Wheel Drive
311
$76,590
IONIQ 9 AWD PERFORMANCE CALLIGRAPHY DESIGN
314.6-kW (422-HP) Dual Electric Motors
All-Wheel Drive
311
$78,090
2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 prices and driving range by trim (*including a $1,600 destination fee)
The IONIQ 9 has a native NACS port to access Tesla Superchargers. Using a 350 kW DC fast charger, it can charge from 10% to 80% in as little as 24 minutes.
While you wait for the three-row IONIQ 9, Hyundai’s smaller IONIQ 5 is currently on sale. With leases starting at just $209 per month, the IONIQ 5 is hard to pass up right now. You can use our link to find Hyundai IONIQ 5 models at a dealer near you today.
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Federal tax credits are starting to waver under the current administration, but as of May 2025, you can still take advantage of up to $4,000 off the purchase of a used EV. If you’d rather not listed to me talk, you can skip right to all the BEVs and PHEVs that currently qualify by clicking here.
How the current tax credit works for used EVs
As part of revised terms in the Inflation Reduction Act signed by President Biden, federal tax credits have been extended (for now) and include revamped benefits for used EV purchases. That said, your used EV purchase must fit certain criteria to qualify for a credit up to $4,000. Per the IRS:
Beginning January 1, 2023, if you buy a qualified previously owned electric vehicle (EV) or fuel cell vehicle (FCV) from a licensed dealer for $25,000 or less, you may be eligible for a previously owned clean vehicle tax credit under Internal Revenue Code Section 25E.
Used EVs face terms that offer a credit equal to 30% of the sale price (up to $4,000). That should help consumers like yourselves get some change back in their pockets at the end of the fiscal year, as long as you stick to these terms as outlined by the IRS.
To qualify as a customer, you must:
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Be an individual who bought the vehicle for use and not for resale
Must be an individual (no businesses)
Not be the original owner
Not be claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return
Not have claimed another used clean vehicle credit in the 3 years before the EV purchase date
Modified adjusted gross income must not exceed $75k for individuals, $112,500 for heads of households, and $150k for joint returns
Additionally, in order for used EV to qualify for federal tax credits, it must:
Have a sale price of $25,000 or less
Have a model year at least 2 years earlier than the calendar year when you buy it
For example, a vehicle purchased in 2023 would need a model year of 2021 or older
Not have already been transferred after August 16, 2022, to a qualified buyer
Have a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 14,000 pounds
Be an eligible FCV or plug-in EV with a battery capacity of least 7 kilowatt hours (kWh)
Be for use primarily in the United States
Purchased from a certified dealer:
For qualified used EVs, the dealer reports required information to you at the time of sale and to the IRS
A used vehicle qualifies for tax credit only once in its lifetime
These used EVs qualify for credits as of May 2025
It’s important to note that this is not the end-all, be-all list of used EVs that qualify for tax credits in the US. As always, we recommend speaking with a tax professional and EV dealer directly to ensure what you and your new vehicle qualify for. Without further ado, here are the all-electric models that currently qualify:
Tesla (TSLA) shareholders were getting excited on social media about a “Tesla prototype” that turned out to be a competitor’s prototype vehicle.
A new electric vehicle prototype started showing up on social media, and Tesla shareholders started sharing it, assuming it was a Tesla prototype.
A Tesla shareholder part of the “Rebellionaire” group on X, a group of Tesla stock pumpers, even shared it, claiming that it is “what gets him ultra bullish” on Tesla:
The only problem is that it wasn’t even a Tesla prototype.
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Faraday Future (FF) came out and confirmed that it is a prototype mule of their new ‘Faraday X’:
That’s our testing vehicle, a Faraday X Prototype Mule.
FF is better known for its very high-end FF91, but it is currently developing less expensive next-generation vehicles under its new Faraday X brand.
Tesla shareholders got excited because some are still holding on to the idea that Tesla is going to release new cheaper electric vehicles under new models.
Tesla has confirmed all that in their most recent financial results and earnings calls, but some are still holding on to the idea that Tesla plans to release completely new models due to Musk’s comments.
Electrek’s Take
I think part of Tesla’s problems right now are due to its shareholder base not recognizing its problems and blindly believing what Elon Musk says, despite a long history of misleading and plain wrong.
This is a prime example.
Tesla has now confirmed what we have been reporting for a year: the new vehicles are just going to be stripped-down versions of Model 3 and Model Y.
No new models are coming to market other than supposedly the Cybercab, but as long as this is only planned without a steering wheel, it is useless until it can solve unsupervised self-driving, which it has yet to do.
This is a problem that shareholders are either ignoring or don’t believe.
Tesla launched a single new model in the last five years, the Cybertruck, which was a commercial flop.
At some point, shareholders must wake up and realize that Musk is destroying Tesla’s EV business and that self-driving vehicles are not coming to save the day.
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