ATLANTA — With just days left before a $5,000 state tax credit on the purchase or lease of an electric car expires, the Nissan Leaf has been picked over at many dealerships.
Channel 2 Consumer Investigator Jim Strickland found the boom has passed for the electric car, with some dealerships completely sold out.
"He says, 'I've got four.' And I said, 'OK, I'll take one,'" said Gwinnett eye surgeon Gene Smith of his conversation Tuesday night with a Nissan dealer.
"One place I had called that had 22 the day before; they had eight (left)," he said.
Strickland learned Friday Auto Nation of Lithia Springs had completely sold out. The chain's Marietta store was a rare exception, with 24 dozen from a recent shipment.
Those numbers are well below normal inventory levels.
"We would consistently have 100 to 150 at all times, because more inventory is coming in as you're selling it. Now we've got less than 20 and no more coming," said Stone Mountain Nissan sales manager Kelly Hoban.
Hoban explained that dealers don't want to be stuck with electric vehicles once the tax break ends so most stopped ordering more cars weeks ago.
"The demand for new Leafs will definitely drop to the floor," he said.
Customers who miss out on the state tax credit have a second chance at owning a Leaf because formerly leased vehicles, now used, are cheap.
Hoban will sell a 2-year-old Leaf with as little as 10,000 miles for thousands less than comparable a gas car.
"Where are you going to get that kind of value for $12,000 on a pre-owned car? You're not going to find it," he said.
Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols, who owns three electric vehicles, predicts the sales will drop 75 percent.
WSBTV
