Infiniti Taking First Steps Toward Launch in Japan

InfinitiInfinitiJapan, 1989 > present31 models
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5 videos
will finally be sold in its native market of Japan 24 years after NissanNissanJapan, 1932 > present159 models
6957 photos
12 videos
launched it in the US as a luxury brand.

The redesigned SkylineNissan SkylineJapan, 1957 > 200712 series
94 versions
40 photos
in Japan now wears the Infiniti badge on its front and rear. It is the first step in introducing the Infiniti brand into Japan. The new car will be marketed as a Skyline, not a Nissan Skyline or Infiniti Skyline.

"The Skyline brand takes its bloodline, its DNA, directly from the Prince Motor Co.PrinceJapan, 1952 > 19663 models
, which used to provide the vehicle for the Japanese emperor. There can be no better symbol of the fact that Skyline is linked to a premium and luxury brand," said Andy Palmer, Nissan global head of product planning.

The Skyline name is an icon in Japan. It has been used for 56 years over 13 generations of cars. In other countries, it has been sold as the Infiniti G and more recently as the Infiniti Q50Infiniti Q50Japan, 2013 > present12 versions
26 photos
.

The decision to take the Infiniti brand global comes from Nissan’s desire to compete in the global luxury car market. It also brings greater efficiencies to marketing so that Nissan does not have to sell the car as one name in one country and another name in a different country.

Infiniti has been on a rapid expansion program over the last two years. It moved its global headquarters to Hong Kong and hired former AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
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27 videos
of America head Johan de Nysschen to run the company.

Infiniti’s goal is to sell 500,000 cars a year by the end of the 2016 fiscal year. That is up from 173,000 cars in the previous fiscal year.

Source: Automotive News