Infiniti reboots as it targets China for future growth
As it reboots and shifts strategic focus, Infiniti also plans to introduce four new models by 2017, including a crossover, two sedans and a "seductive performance car," according to Johan de Nysschen, who was formerly head of Volkswagen AG's Audi of America.
Nearly 14 years after the launch of its first car, the Q45 luxury sedan, Infiniti continues to be largely a U.S.-centric brand with meager overseas sales - and none in the Japanese domestic market.
Although U.S. sales rose nearly 22 percent last year, Infiniti remains embedded in seventh place in the U.S. luxury market, wedged between Audi and Ford Motor Co's Lincoln.
Still, the United States "will remain our principal market," de Nysschen said, even as Infiniti begins to redirect its marketing focus to the growing luxury market in China.
De Nysschen has been at the helm only seven months, but already is beginning to stir up the brand.
In December, he announced a simplified naming scheme for the brand. All cars will use the letter Q, followed by two numbers. All crossovers and utility vehicles will have the letters QX, followed by two numbers.
De Nysschen unveiled the first of Infiniti's new models, the Q50 sedan, this week at the Detroit auto show as a replacement for the outgoing G37. For the 2014 model year, it will re-label all
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