Infiniti expands dealership network in China

Nissan Motor Co. plans to significantly expand the dealership network for its luxury brand Infiniti in China to further tap the Chinese market.

Infiniti now has nine dealerships in major Chinese cities. Nissan plans to add five Infiniti dealerships in China by the end of this year, Yasuaki Hashimoto, president of Nissan (China) Investment Co. said at last week's EX35 launch event.

He doesn't say which cities these new dealerships will be located.

Nissan is eyeing China as its second largest luxury car market after North America, says Hashimoto. According to Nissan, a total of 1,500 units of Infiniti were sold in China in 2007.

With a 3.5-liter engine, Infiniti's imported model EX35 crossover SUV will arrive at its China-based dealerships this week.

Two variants of the Infiniti EX35 are available at starting prices of 627,000 yuan ($91,856) and 647,000 yuan ($94,783).

Nissan started selling Infiniti cars in China in 2007. Prior to the EX35, Infiniti models including the G35 sports sedan, the FX series of SUVs and the M35 sedan had been made available in China.

Infiniti will add its fifth model to its product lineup in China before the end of this year, says Yukihiko Kamitoh, general manager of Nissan (China)'s import car business division. But he doesn't say which model.