Infiniti has ambitions to increase annual sales from their current level of about 150,000 units to 500,000 by 2017. In order to keep prices down and meet its target, the luxury automaker will begin moving production out of Japan in order to counteract the strength of the yen.
“Clearly, we’re working on one strategy,” said Andy Palmer, vice president of Infiniti. “As cars come up for renewal, generally they’re being relocated in a function of where the majority of sales are.”
The first model to be built under the new localized production scheme will be the upcoming JX35 crossover, which will be assembled in Nissan’s plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. The Etherea-inspired compact hatchback, which could be sold in America but will count Europe as its biggest market, will likely be built in the old country instead of Japan.
Despite the planned production shifts, Infiniti will refrain from totally moving production out of Japan.
“Part of the myth of Infiniti is Japanese craftsmanship. You need to have something resonating around that,” Palmer said.
References
1.’Infiniti shifts output…’ view
