NEW YORK -

After the model picked up an honor at the New York International Auto Show, Nissan Americas decided to accelerate the U.S. market launch of the Nissan LEAF.

Beginning May 1, the company explained it will reopen reservations to select consumers as both vehicle production and U.S. deliveries move into the many thousands. Nissan recapped that it completed its first reservation session last September after achieving its goal of 20,000 U.S. reservations, three months prior to the first LEAF delivery.

The automaker indicated this next round of reservations will first reopen in the launch states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. Individuals who already have registered on the Nissan LEAF website — a group that now totals 340,000 potential owners — can take the first opportunity to reserve a spot in line to purchase a LEAF.

Nissan stressed that more markets will follow this fall with availability in the southeastern United States, specifically Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, South Carolina and Virginia.

Nationwide ordering is set to begin in 2012. Nissan calculated more than 500 LEAFs have been delivered to U.S. buyers since December.

“Nissan is pleased to report that the first vessel carrying post earthquake-produced Nissan LEAFs is scheduled to arrive to U.S. shores April 27,” Carlos Tavares, chairman of Nissan Americas, told attendees at New York International Auto Show.

“Nissan LEAF deliveries are about to grow from the few hundreds to the many thousands, and all current customer orders will be fulfilled by the end of this summer,” Tavares continued.

Nissan’s newest LEAF reservation strategy comes soon after the April 18 debut of the automaker’s ad campaign for the all-electric vehicle titled, “Value of Zero.”

OEM officials described the model’s ad campaign as a “celebration” of the 100-percent electric vehicle that does not use gasoline nor does it emit tailpipe fumes.

The campaign tagline, “Zero is Worth Everything,” highlights the vehicle and reveals what Nissan thinks is “the true value of zero” through topical imagery arranged in the circular shape of a zero.

The LEAF also is featured in the documentary Revenge of the Electric Car. Filmmaker and electric-vehicle advocate Chris Paine directs the movie, which follows executives including Nissan chief executive officer Carlos Ghosn in his pursuit of zero-emission leadership.

Revenge opened last Friday, Earth Day, at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

LEAF Wins 2011 World Car of the Year

Also at the New York International Auto Show, the LEAF was named 2011 World Car of the Year, edging out the BMW 5-Series and the Audi A8 for the top spot.

The model previously was named European Car of the Year.

The World Car Awards jurors observed that, “The LEAF is the gateway to a brave new electric world from Nissan.

“This five-seater, five-door hatchback is the world’s first, purpose-built, mass-produced electric car,” they continued. “It has a range of over 100 miles on a full charge claims Nissan, takes around eight hours to recharge using 220-240V power supply and produces zero tailpipe emissions. Its low center of gravity produced sharp turn-in with almost no body roll and no understeer. The good news? It feels just like a normal car, only quieter.”

The World Car of the Year competition was launched in 2004 with winners chosen by a panel of automotive journalists from Asia, Europe and North America.

Reacting to the latest honor, Ghosn insisted, “It is a great joy that the world’s first, mass-marketed electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF, has won the prestigious award of 2011 World Car of the Year.

“This accolade recognizes Nissan LEAF, a pioneer in zero-emission mobility, as comparable in its driving performance, quietness and superb handling to gas-powered cars,” he continued. "And it validates Nissan’s clear vision and the values of sustainable mobility that we want to offer to customers around the world.”

Nissan pointed out the LEAF already is available in Japan, the United States and select European markets and will be released in other global markets in 2012. The company noted the vehicle is currently built at its Oppama, Japan, plant.

Officials added that the LEAF also will be manufactured at the company’s Smyrna, Tenn., plant in late 2012 and at Nissan’s Sunderland plant in the United Kingdom by early 2013.