- Continued strong progress towards its growth plan
- Further strides towards expanding product portfolio
- Extending manufacturing footprint to five countries
HONG KONG – Infiniti sold a record 101,220 new vehicles around the world in the first six months in 2014, up 30% compared with a year ago. The brand has broken monthly sales records globally in April, May and June this year. Infiniti grew in 31 markets around the world, including key markets such as the U.S., China, Canada and the Middle East.
“Infiniti is making significant progress towards its growth plan. We have achieved sales records globally as well as in many individual markets,” said Johan de Nysschen, President of Infiniti Motor Company Limited. “We continue to transform the organization, strengthen our product portfolio and nurture the brand. This all results in accelerated growth versus the overall premium vehicle market.”
In the U.S., Infiniti sold about 60,000 vehicles from January to June, a year-over-year increase of 14%. In Canada, sales were up 17% reaching about 5,100 vehicles. In China, which Infiniti is turning into its second volume hub, the company sold almost 14,000 vehicles, 130% up compared to a year ago outperforming the premium market by a wide margin. Infiniti has at least doubled its sales in China in every single month in 2014 and continues to challenge other premium brands in this highly competitive market. In addition, Infiniti has grown 23% in the Middle East. Driven by the all-new Q50 premium sports sedan, Infiniti increased its sales by 63% in the ultra-competitive West European premium car market and more than tripled them in Korea compared to first half of 2013.
Infiniti also continues to deliver on its promise to expand its product portfolio. Infiniti has sold about 50,000 Q50s around the world since the launch of the premium sports sedan in 2013. With its distinctive new design language, passionate craftsmanship, and world-leading technologies, it has won numbers of prestigious awards from around the world. Infiniti also introduced the new Q70L and QX80 models at the New York auto show in April this year. The long-wheel base version of Q50 and QX50 will be introduced to the China market by the end of this year. Next up is the Q30, Infiniti’s premium compact entry for global markets, in 2015.
Following the Q30 Concept, which debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013, and the Q50 Eau Rouge concept, revealed at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2014, Infiniti will continue to introduce a series of exciting concept vehicles with production intent at upcoming major auto shows to showcase the brand promise.
Infiniti has a clearly pronounced product strategy to take the brand into the next decade. Its vehicle portfolio will increase by 60 percent over the next five years, and the number of engines and transmissions will more than double. By the end of this decade, Infiniti will have eight different sedan and coupe lines, and six crossover and SUV lines, with direct injection, turbo charged gasoline, clean diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full EV powertrains.
The new and expanded portfolio is supported by additional production capacity to achieve expected sales of more than 500,000 vehicles per year by the end of the decade. Later this year, production will start in China for the local market, and next year, Infiniti will start production of the Q30 in the UK. At the end of June, the company announced the start of engine production at its Infiniti Powertrain Plant in Decherd, Tennessee, in the U.S, as well as production in Mexico as of 2017. This will extend Infiniti’s current manufacturing footprint from Japan and the U.S. to five countries on three continents in the next few years.
“2014 marks Infiniti’s 25th anniversary. Our brand is entering an exciting and new phase as we transform ourselves into a global brand,” said de Nysschen. “We have ambitious objectives. We are executing a sound strategy, and we are on track to deliver against our plan. With an aggressive product offensive over the next five years, the team at Infiniti looks to the future with great confidence.”