Sales of the new Leaf EV are off to an excellent start, according to Nissan . At the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show , Nissan Senior Vice President Asako Hoshino told reporters that sales have exceeded expectations, and that it has received over 9,000 orders in less than two months of availability.Europe has made up 3,500 of those global sales, according to a report from Automotive News Europe . According to Nissan Europe EV Director Gareth Dunsmore, it took the first-generation Nissan Leaf a year to achieve that same number. The new Nissan Leaf began sales in Norway in early September, followed by Germany, Austria, France and Holland at the beginning of October. EV-friendly Norway has seen more than 2,000 sales of the 2018 Leaf so far."They have been our first customers and our most loyal customers, and we wanted to give something back to the people who trusted us from Day One back in 2010 and 2011," Dunsmore said of Norway.The first Leafs available in Europe are a limited launch edition called 2.Zero. These include Nissan's ProPilot Assist semi-autonomous (adaptive cruise control with lane-keep assist) technology, and start at €31,950 (about $37,000) in Germany. Less-expensive models will be available later.It's unclear how Nissan's inspection woes will affect sales in Japan. The automaker has suspended all domestic production there after it was found that it hadn't been following proper inspection procedures required for cars sold in the Japanese domestic market.On a more positive note, Nissan unveiled a Leaf Nismo concept at the Tokyo Motor Show, as well as the IMx electric, autonomous crossover concept . Nissan has also announced that it will join the Formula E electric racing series in 2018.The 2018 Nissan Leaf has a 40-kWh battery offering 150 miles of range on the U.S. cycle. It goes on sale in the U.S. in early 2018 for a base price of $30,875, before incentives. Later, a second variant with a 60-kWh battery pack, called "e-Plus," will offer an expected 225 miles of range.