Nissan Sets Up Infiniti Venture in China

Nissan Motor Co. has partnered with Dongfeng Motor Corp. on a 50:50 joint venture to make and import Infiniti luxury cars in China.

Daniel Kirchert, currently Infiniti China managing director, will be president of the company, called Dongfeng Infiniti Motor Co.

The venture will brand the vehicles it produces in China starting with stretched-wheelbase versions of the Q50 large sport sedan and QX50 sporty crossover vehicle with Dongfeng Infiniti badging. Imported models will carry the Infiniti name alone.

The partners plan to assemble Infiniti vehicles at a factory in Xiangyang operated by Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Co. venture. Production of the Q50L and QX50 will begin late this year and in early 2015, respectively.

Nissan intends to build Infiniti's annual sales in China to 100,000 units by the end of 2018. Volume last year jumped 54% to 17,000 units, and demand in the first eight months of 20154 was twice the year-earlier pace.