In September last year, Nissan revealed it was preparing a new cut-price version of the 2026 Leaf for the US, known simply as the Leaf S. The announcement signaled a renewed push toward true entry-level electric mobility. This model was expected to start at just $25,360, significantly undercutting the competition and bringing an affordable EV within reach of many more buyers.

Sadly, this model is nowhere to be seen and may have been dropped entirely. Last week, Nissan confirmed that the entry-level Leaf S will not launch this year as originally planned. While it said the car has not been canceled, at least not at this stage, there is no guarantee it will ever see the light of day.

Read: Nissan Beats Tesla To $25K EV Musk Said Would Never Happen

“Nissan continually evaluates market trends, customer preferences, and the evolving EV landscape to ensure we are focusing our resources where they create the most value,” Nissan US director of product communications Dominic Vizor told InsideEVs. “As part of that process, we have decided not to introduce the smaller‑battery variant of the 2026 Nissan LEAF in the U.S. this model year.”

Vizor added that Nissan remains “committed to delivering the right products at the right time,” adding that it “will continue to assess future battery configurations based on customer demand and segment needs.”

The Nissan Leaf S was supposed to launch with a 52 kWh battery pack, significantly smaller than the 75 kWh pack of other models. No range figure was announced, but it would likely have fallen to the low 200s, which would be enough for some but would no doubt fall short of those planning longer journeys. Existing Leaf models have a driving range of 288-303 miles (463-487 km).

Although Nissan didn’t pinpoint a specific reason for the Leaf S’s delay, beyond mentioning broad market trends and the “evolving EV landscape,” likely impacting the model’s financial viability are the import tariffs it would be subject to due to its Japanese origins.

Ford is preparing to launch a $30,000 electric truck, and the steady drumbeat of promotion is starting to wear a little thin. Earlier this month, the Blue Oval released three glorified blog posts about the affordable mid-size pickup and a 14 minute video, which was approximately 10 minutes too long.

Before that, the company talked about failure and Henry Ford’s ill-fated stints at the Detroit Automobile Company and the Henry Ford Company. The automaker then said they’re pursuing similar bold efforts as it “works to design and assemble affordable electric vehicles.”

More: Ford’s ‘Model T Movement’ Is A New $30,000 Electric Pickup

The thing is that $30,000 electric vehicles already exist and can be bought today. While the upcoming model will be notable for being a mid-size truck that introduces some new techniques and technology, it might not be as revolutionary as Ford would have you believe.

The Blue Oval will likely continue trickling out trivial details for months to come, but shoppers could easily head to their nearest Chevy dealer and snag an Equinox EV. While the model starts at $34,995, the company is offering $6,500 in incentives, and this lowers the price of entry to $28,495 before factoring in the $1,800 destination fee.

The bowtie brand also recently brought back the Bolt, which starts at $27,600 and has a $1,395 destination fee. This means you can get an electric hatchback with 262 miles (422 km) of range for $28,995.

Chevrolet isn’t alone as the redesigned Nissan Leaf starts at $29,990 before a $1,495 destination charge. It will eventually be joined by an even more affordable variant that has a smaller battery pack and a less powerful electric motor.

All three of these vehicles are available now, although they lack a truck bed. Ford is banking on the latter being a big differentiator, although early teaser images suggest this won’t be your typical pickup as the company is focusing on range and efficiency.