Infiniti Aims to Triple China Sales in 5 Years

Nissan Motor Co.’s Infiniti luxury brand aims to more than triple its annual sales in China to 150,000 within five years.

The growth will be led by the introduction of five new models and increased local production, the carmaker says. Infiniti sold a record 48,400 vehicles in China last year, up 16% over 2016 levels.

By 2025, Infiniti expects 90% of its China sales will come from locally produced models, up from 60% today. The carmaker says this will allow it to reduce prices by avoiding China’s 25% import tariff and the volatility of foreign exchange rates. Currently, only two Infiniti models, the Q50L and Q70 L long-wheelbase sedans, are built in China.

Electrification also will play a role in Infiniti’s China strategy. The marque, which will introduce the Q Inspiration concept sedan next week at the Beijing auto show, previously has said it plans to electrify all the models it introduces after 2021.

By 2025 Infiniti expects to derive more than half its global sales from either battery-powered or range-extended electric vehicles that use Infiniti’s ePower drive technology. The latter powertrain includes a small piston engine to recharge the battery.