Nissan considering Infiniti for India

After Toyota Motor Corporation, compatriot Nissan Motor Company has started to delve into the luxury side of the passenger vehicle business in India.

The third-biggest Japanese car maker, which retails its premium vehicles under the Infiniti brand, has undertaken a study to introduce the marquee brand in the country.

Gilles Normand, corporate vice-president (Africa, the Middle East and India), Infiniti and light commercial vehicle business unit, Nissan, said, “The Infiniti will come to India. We are doing a study to determine how and when we will bring the brand to India.”

The Infiniti portfolio for India could include the G series saloon (to take on the Mercedes C class, BMW 3 series and Audi A4), M series saloon (to take on the Mercedes E class, BMW 5 series, Audi A6 and Jag XF), EX series mini sport utility vehicles, or SUVs, (to take on the Audi Q5 and BMW X3), SUVs FX and QX series SUVs.

Nissan introduced the Infiniti marquee in the US in 1989. Later, it expanded its presence in West Asia, South Korea, Russia, Taiwan, China, Ukraine and the UK. The marketing network for the Infiniti branded vehicles includes 230 dealers across 15 countries.

In November last year, Toyota had announced its decision to launch the Lexus brand in India by 2013. It is working out the launch date, the product portfolio and the dealer network for retailing the Lexus cars in India.

The vehicles would be marketed through an exclusive distribution network in line with the company’s global policy. The cars will be imported as completely built units from Japan. There has been no decision on assembling these cars in India.