Do you know who sells the LEAF?  Or how about the Volt?  A recent study shows that nearly 70% of shoppers had no idea that Nissan makes the LEAF; and about 55% of them were not able to connect the Volt with Chevrolet.

This lack of knowledge by the general car buying public is not a good sign for Nissan or Chevrolet.  The Nissan LEAF and Chevrolet Volt are supposed to be “halo products” to help draw customers in who may be unfamiliar with the manufacturer’s products. 

Thirteen percent of consumers surveyed associated the Leaf with other manufacturers like Toyota or Chevrolet.

One problem with these “halo products” is their availability.  Both the LEAF and the Volt are only available in seven states right now, on a limited inventory.  However, GM just launched 600 demo vehicles to Chevrolet dealerships around the country; this should help draw more customers in.

The Nissan LEAF should also start appearing in more stores around the country as Nissan ramps up production. 

Brand awareness for both the LEAF and Volt should increase in the upcoming months as both Chevrolet and Nissan work to make these vehicles more mainstream.