When Nissan began to advertise the LEAF, Lance Armstrong was a central figure in the ads promoting the car, and Nissan announced he would be the first recipient of the car this September. Over the summer some of you may have even seen Lance and the LEAF at one of the various “Livestrong Challenge” tour stops (which is a walk, run, or ride for Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong Foundation)
Unfortunately for Lance, and for Nissan, the summer has been met with a degree of scandal and failure for Lance. He finished 23rd in this year’s Tour de France, but more damaging was renewed allegations of doping for the 38 year old cyclist…and not just casual scuttlebutt this time.
Ever since the Tour de France wrapped, federal prosecutors have accelerated their criminal investigation into Lance, including interviewing many former teammates and associates of his, at least three of which have come forward with damaging evidence against Mr. Armstrong, who at a recent tour stop in Denver told the Associated Press he had “nothing to say” about the federal investigation.
The question now is, will Nissan stick with Lance Armstrong despite his struggles? How does Nissan feel about their spokesperson today?
Rupal Parekh, from Adage, asked Nissan’s new marketing boss, Jon Brancheau about his feelings towards Mr. Armstrong, “…there’s a ton of scrutiny around him with regards to doping claims. Does that worry you?”
To which, Mr. Brancheau replied: “This is something we’ll continue to monitor, but the claims are all unsubstantiated up to this point. He’s iconic, and he’s almost the epitome of innovation when you think about athleticism. We’re well connected with [Lance] and we continue to support him and the team. He’s backing down to some degree from cycling in future years but we expect him to be actively engaged in a lot of different athletic events, especially marathons and things of that nature. So we’re staying the course and continue to support him.”
All things considered, I think it is hard to judge how Nissan really feels at this point because they do still have to follow through with delivering Lance Armstrong the very first LEAF next month, and are also scheduled at least one more LIVESTRONG tour stop in Austin, TX on October the 22nd to 24th, but I would not be surprised to see the two parting company soon after.
![Will Ferrell Spotted Driving a Nissan LEAF [Video]](http://nissan-leaf.net/wp-content/themes/bigfoot/includes/timthumb.php?src=
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Statik,
I am posting this again from a previous post because you may have overlooked it.
“Thanks for the information. I was intrigued by the following comment from you.
“Bottom line: Nissan has said they will get the test drive out before you receive the car/are required to put any money down, so order the car…and if it is not for you, walk away.”
So when I order the car, I don’t have to put money down? Do you have any more information on this? What will the payment requirements/procedures be? Can I really walk away after I order it without penalty? If so, then I have no worries. I will order it as you say, get my test drive and have no risk or worries. ”
Jason(Quote)
Lance is one of the most tested (for performance enhancing drugs) athletes in all sports. Not once has he ever had a positive test. It will be interesting what evidence they can produce without any positive drug tests.
Unlimited_MPG(Quote)
Like glue!
GO EV!!!!!!!
FUTURE LEAF DRIVER(Quote)
If Leaf production doesn’t begin until October, I wonder what Nissan is giving Lance in September? One of the test drive mules, all cleaned up?
Karl Olmstead(Quote)
How many millions is Lance making for this endorsement?
demetrius(Quote)
Here is the quote from Nissan, “‘early adopters’ (reservations) will also be given an opportunity to test-drive Nissan LEAF thoroughly by December, at which point they will need to formally confirm their order”
Times change of course, and I’m not sure Nissan can make the dealers do anything they don’t want to in truth. However, I am not seeing any dealers looking for deposits on orders, they will gladly take ‘no-shows’ into inventory. I have seen a couple say they want something 2 weeks before delivery.
In the end it doesn’t matter, do the online order, submit the RAQ (request a quote), the dealer will call you back themselves and tell you the details. You don’t like it, just RAQ another until they give you what you want.
If you are still worried about it, just call one of them ahead of time, I’m sure they will put you at ease. (but I would give them until Wednesday to pull themselves out of the chaoes…unless you are in the August group))
Jay (Statik) Cole(Quote)
Statik,
Stan Stein(Quote)
I don’t care about the advertising… I care about when I’ll be able to let my wife test-drive one to see if she’ll let me trade in her Prius for an EV….!
Luke(Quote)
Stan Stein said
Nissan uses months with fuzzy boundaries, sort of an elastic calendar, with September sliding over into October, October into November…etc, so that the name of the month brings to mind a time of the year, loosely, but not exactly a particular time. For example, if one is to order in August, it may be like August, like September, but roughly then.
If Leaf production doesn’t begin until October, I wonder what Nissan is giving Lance in September? One of the test drive mules, all cleaned up?
.
Nissan does not seem to be constrained by the hard calendar boundaries that the rest of us are so rigid about.
.
That is, thought about correctly (smile), Lance will get his Nissan on time, in the season of September, as promised.
RB(Quote)
Unlimited_MPG said:
He may be the most tested athletes in sports but remember these tests only test for known drugs / techniques. See the Marion Jones story for the results of “the most tested athletes” and not testing positive. It will come back to haunt Lance I am sure.
Cheers!
Canman(Quote)
I have no doubt Lance used performance enhancing drugs. That doesn’t really detract from his performances because all this competitors were as well. If you were winning you were using but that doesn’t mean if you were using you were winning. Basically the drugs gave you about a 10% boost. At competitive levels of sport first and last may be separated by 1% or 2%. Just not possible to not use and be competitive.
If anyone thinks for a moment that 90% of professional players in all sports don’t dope they’re delusional. Heck, just look at the before and after shots of Tiger Woods. Or the basketball players who go off to “work on their game” and come back abnormally bulked up and chiseled.
Anyway, Nissan will probably find a way to find a new spokesperson or just eliminate Lance. What it doesn’t want to do is feature him. Getting involved in a drug scandal is an entanglement that Nissan definitely doesn’t need. Plus Lance bombed in the Tour. That was painful. LOL
DonC(Quote)
Mystery of the universe. I don’t know really. I imagine they are going to pull off one of the production-intent models from the pre-production run?
I’m not going to lose any sleep over Lance’s car, (=
Jay (Statik) Cole(Quote)
Me too!! I was really wondering if you had any information that “production” had actually begun.
Stan Stein(Quote)
and I will ask again today,
Who is ordering tomorrow (assuming it is tomorrow). I think BillR is. and maybe James who I believe is ordering out of state.
GeorgeS(Quote)
Are you expecting a lot more? Aren’t there only 200 August orders? So if 2 people raised their hands here that’s 1% of all possible orders.
DonC(Quote)
Don Honey,
I’m not EXPECTING anything. I’m just asking the question.
GeorgeS(Quote)
If Lance doesn’t work out maybe Nissan could get Paris Hilton.
/Just think of all the free press!
Carcus(Quote)
Crossing my fingers the system is working and I can order tomorrow.
I am in Washington if that is of interest to you.
David(Quote)
Hi James, thanks for reserving your 100% electric Nissan LEAF™. We just wanted to let you know you’ll be able to order your new Nissan LEAF in September 2010.
This was my 7/27 e-mail from Nissan. 9/1, 9/30 or somewhere in between?
FLD – did you get an August date?
James(Quote)
Seems like some of the pictures of the Leaf’s interior showed a tan interior with gray markings or sections. If so, that is a whole lot better than the white on white we have been seeing. Any information on this, anyone? How about information on interior/exterior color combination – what is available for each exterior color choice.
N Riley(Quote)
Whether Nissan sticks with Armstrong or not doesn’t really matter to me. I always discount corporate spokespersons because I know they are getting a pay check to do it. Hey, even I would stoop to that level if Nissan would pay me. Of course, beyond a few hundred people no one would know who the heck I was.
The Leaf is going to sell itself based on Nissan’s reputation, its history and word of mouth. A good, slick advertising campaign, with or without a spokesperson, will go a long way.
N Riley(Quote)
Nope, nothing yet…
GO EV!!!
Future LEAF Driver(Quote)
James,
do you still plan to order out of state??
GeorgeS(Quote)
Just random FYI, EPA has released proposed stickers for BEVs, EREV, fuel cells, etc. I have a new post up with all the pictures…and a video put out by the agency (who is obviously from the Boston area)
Jay (Statik) Cole(Quote)
Actually she did test positive (for EPO). That’s how she was caught.
Unlimited_MPG(Quote)
I hope Nissan continue to use Lance to promote their Leaf. I think he’s an ideal spokes-person and as the most tested athletes in the world to NEVER test positive for drugs, he’s the sort of example we need in this country. I enjoy Football and other sports, but how we even discuss whether this or that cyclist doped when we still showcase NFL is hypocritical.
Anyhow, Lance is so much more now than a national hero athlete, he’s created a huge surge in popularity of cycling as a recreation and sport, and has raised well over $100, million for cancer research AND put pressure on politicians to support such research.
If Nissan were to drop Lance based on these unsubstantiated claims, I’d consider dropping Nissan ! – much as I’m looking forward to my Leaf, we all know this is just the first of many many affordable EV’s.
shaun(Quote)