Charged and other EV boosters have long been critical of automakers for not doing more to advertise their plug-in vehicles. In Nissan’s case, this may be changing, as a direct result of Tesla’s attention-grabbing advance sales for its recently unveiled Model 3.

As reported by Automotive News, Nissan has run print ads in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal, reminding buyers that the LEAF is available right now, whereas Tesla’s Model 3 won’t hit the road until late 2017.

“No one should have any reservations about getting an electric car today,” reads Nissan’s new ad. “Why wait when you can drive an all-electric LEAF now? And why drop $1,000 to stand in line when you can get $4,000 cash back and best-in-class range?”

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has always been a believer in EVs, even though LEAF sales have been less than electrifying of late. “Electrification is happening,” he said in January. While consumers are still skeptical about EVs, they will eventually embrace new technology, as they have many times in the past.

More recently, Ghosn told Automotive News that Model 3’s popularity was a good sign, and that it would inspire Nissan to improve its EVs. “We welcome competition because it can expand the market. It’s going to stimulate demand.”

Source: Automotive News