It's no secret that the Nissan Leaf's current incarnation is getting a little tired. After all, it's been around since 2017, and it doesn't look like it will be around much longer.

Nissan has confirmed (via AutoCar) that the Leaf's successor will arrive in 2025 and be built at Nissan's UK plant in Sunderland. But the real news? It will be a crossover, not a compact hatchback.

Nissan Europe boss Guillaume Cartier confirmed this news and the fact that the car will be considered the Leaf's successor. The fact that it is a crossover also means that Nissan's European lineup will be very heavily focused on crossovers in the future. Nissan has already confirmed that there will be an electric Juke in addition to the Nissan Ariya, which is scheduled to go on sale early next year.

There is also the X-Trail and Qashqai, both so-called "mild hybrids." These are minor hybrids, in which gasoline drives the electric motor. However, unlike, say, a Toyota Prius, they do not have enough battery power to drive around on electric energy alone.

For those who don't know, a crossover is like a small SUV. The two vehicles share many similarities, including a large interior space. However, crossovers are generally smaller and lighter because they are built on the same platform as cars; SUVs share a platform with pickup trucks and are consequently larger and heavier.

Nissan has confirmed that the Leaf's successor will use the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance's EMF-EV platform. This is the same platform as the Ariya and Renault's Megane E-Tech Electric. It will also use the latest batteries from Envision AESC.

The new car will be produced in 100,000 units at the Sunderland plant and is designed for the global market. Presumably that means it will be sold in the United States. However, Nissan has only confirmed that the British-built model will be exported to mainland Europe.

One thing we don't know is whether the car will carry the Leaf name or where it will be positioned in Nissan's electric vehicle portfolio. However, according to Autocar, Cartier has confirmed that there is a new small EV designed to replace the Nissan Micra. The vehicle's undercarriage will be sourced by Mitsubishi and Renault.

For those who don't know, the Micra and second-generation Leaf designs are almost identical. Perhaps instead of a new crossover, the Leaf will take Nissan's place as the inexpensive entry-level EV. The fact that Nissan is letting its alliance partners do much of the work may explain that, though.

In any case, this is the end of an era for Nissan. The Japanese automaker was one of the first to fully enter the developing electric vehicle market. The first Leaf was launched in 2012 and proved to be a very popular vehicle, although it did not match the likes of Tesla.

The 2017 redesign followed that success with necessary improvements, including a larger battery, faster charging, an autonomous driving system, and a design that doesn't look completely awful. However, it remained a compact hatchback.

But this is the next step in Nissan's electrification plan over the next decade. By 2025, Nissan hopes to either electrify all of its models or equip them with the same E-Power hybrid system as the Qashqai and X-Trail.

Cartier also confirmed that, unlike other automakers, Nissan is not investing in hydrogen technology. Instead, Nissan is fully committed to electrification, with the goal of having 80% of its sales volume be fully electric by 2030.