Generation history
The Nissan LEAF has been through 3 generations, starting in 2010, 2017 and 2025. The gaps were 7, 8 years, an average of 7.5. The pace has been steady. The current generation began in 2025. On that cadence the next full redesign points to 2032 through 2034, centered on 2033. This is a projection. It comes from the model's own past redesign years, not from the manufacturer. A mid-cycle refresh usually lands in between. Public records describe the current generation this way: The third-generation Leaf was previewed as the Nissan Chill-Out concept on 29 November 2021. Specifications, trims and the NHTSA safety record are on the Nissan LEAF model page.
Every generation
| Generation | Code | Years | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | ZE0 | 2010–2017 | The first generation Nissan Leaf was in production from 2010 to 2017. |
| Second generation | ZE1 | 2017–2025 | In October 2017, for the 2018 model year, Nissan launched the new generation Leaf in Japan, and deliveries in North America and Europe began in February 2018. |
| Third generation | ZE2 | 2025–present | The third-generation Leaf was previewed as the Nissan Chill-Out concept on 29 November 2021. |
The Nissan LEAF spent 7.5 years per generation on average. The current one is 1 years old. Treat 2032 to 2034 as a range, not a date.
Source: Nissan Leaf (Wikipedia). The estimate is our arithmetic on those start years.
Open the Nissan LEAF model page for specifications, trims, safety record and answers.
In more detail
The first generation Nissan Leaf was in production from 2010 to 2017. It was unveiled on 1 August 2009 as the world's first series produced battery electric vehicle. Before it officially commenced production, Nissan developed three prototype battery electric vehicles—dubbed the EV-01, EV-02 and EV-11. The former two were based on the Z11 Nissan Cube while the latter was based on the C11 Nissan Tiida.
In October 2017, for the 2018 model year, Nissan launched the new generation Leaf in Japan, and deliveries in North America and Europe began in February 2018. In 2018, global sales reached a record level of 87,149 units, third behind the Tesla Model 3 and the BAIC EC-Series. Mechanically, the second generation Leaf is similar to the first, while adding more range, and more power, while departing stylistically. The interior adds Android Auto & Apple CarPlay.
The third-generation Leaf was previewed as the Nissan Chill-Out concept on 29 November 2021. Nissan began to release details of the third-generation Leaf in March 2025. It was unveiled on 17 June 2025, with substantial updates to its design, platform, and performance. The model was released later that year.
Generation notes adapted from Nissan Leaf (Wikipedia).
Today's Nissan LEAF