Nissan Limited Infiniti sales in China

It is reported that Nissan, making a cautious venture into the Chinese market, plans to sell about 1,000 of its luxury Infiniti models in the first year.

Nissan, which is expected to start selling the high-end cars in the summer, plans to open 10 dealerships in China by the end of the year. The first will be opened in Beijing this July. Three Infiniti models will be sold there, all brought in from Japan. Europe will not get the Infiniti brand until 2008, but Infinities are already sold elsewhere in Asia, including South Korea and Taiwan.

Insiders say that the low demand for the originally launched Infiniti Q45 Infiniti M35, named as CIMA and FUGA in the Chinese market, is the main reason for the Nissan's limit distribution of Infiniti in China.

FUGA sales in China has fall short of expectation, which is certain to influence Nissan's distribution decision here. Still, Nissan's Infiniti faces tough competition from other more established premium brands such as BMW, Volkswagen AG's Audi brand and DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz.