2021 LA Auto Show Video: Hyundai SEVEN Concept, Ioniq 5 Electric Vehicles

Miles Johnson, Senior Manager, Quality, Service and Technology Public Relations at Hyundai Motor America discusses the SEVEN Concept and Ioniq 5, which goes on sale in Dcember, along with the EV market from the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Click here to watch video.

2021 LA Auto Show Video: Nissan Ariya Joins Leaf In EV Space

Simon Kinderknecht, Planner - Electric Vehicle Marketing & Sales Strategy at Nissan Motor Corporation Murfreesboro, Tennessee discusses the Nissan Ariya and Leaf EVs along with the electric vehicle market and trends at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show. 

Click here to watch interview.

Andy Palmer, Nissan EVP, On Growing EV Line-up

Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. expects Leaf sales to grow when the Smyrna, Tennessee plant starts making the electric vehicle helping to overcome the dollar-yen currency challenge. That was one of the reasons Palmer gave in explaining why last year's Leaf sales of 9,000 missed the projection of 25,000. Another factor was Japan's March 2011 earthquake and tsunami which impacted manufacturing. Learning how to mass produce batteries was another issue. With a $4 billion investment in developing the Leaf, the expectations are high.

The NV200 compact cargo van, Infiniti LE and a "city car" will be added to the Nissan EV line-up. Palmer said the Infiniti LE (Luxury Electric) has the underpinnings of a Leaf but taking the hatchback to a sedan was a challenge. The LE is expected to go on sale  in 2014 as part of Nissan-Infinti's 51 launches in the next 5 years.

I spoke to Andy Palmer after he participated on the concluding panel - The Global Campaign for Consumer EV Adoption - at EVS26, the 4-day International Electric Vehicle Symposium that ended in Los Angeles Wednesday.