As part of a strategic “restructuring initiative” focused on the prominent markets of the United States and China, Infiniti has declared the cessation of its operations in Western Europe.
Infiniti assures that it will support affected employees in securing new job opportunities and will engage in negotiations for end-of-franchise agreements with its retail partners. The existing Infiniti dealerships will continue to manage services, warranties, upkeep, and resale of pre-owned vehicles until Infiniti devises a plan for the distribution of these responsibilities. The production of vehicles at Infiniti’s Sunderland, United Kingdom facility—the Q30 hatchback and QX30 subcompact crossover models—will cease by the middle of 2019.
Infiniti elucidated that its departure from the Western European market will not impact its operations in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, or East Asia, all of which are illustrating promising growth. Particularly encouraging are the Chinese and American markets, where Infiniti is set to make substantial investments to enhance its competitive edge. An undertaking to launch five new models in China over the next five years has been made, alongside a commitment to capitalize on the escalating demand for crossovers and SUVs in the United States.
On a global scale, Infiniti aims to enhance the customer experience at its dealerships and elevate the residual values of its vehicles, part of which will involve future-proofing the brand’s product portfolio. From 2021 onwards, no new diesel options will be offered as Infiniti initiates a transformational journey to electrify its entire lineup on a novel platform. This endeavor will revolve around a series of electric crossovers inspired by its QX Inspiration concept.
Furthermore, Infiniti pledges to “leverage more synergies with” its parent company Nissan, hinting at the potential adaptation of electrified Nissan platforms for Infiniti’s utilization.
“As a premium brand, Infiniti operates and markets independently,” stated a company representative to The Drive. “Nevertheless, there are synergies within the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance that we can leverage. For instance, in line with our commitment to base the majority of our upcoming vehicles on electric powertrains after 2021, we are looking into adopting technologies developed through Nissan’s expertise to customize them for Infiniti to offer the optimal driving experience.”