Nissan considers Infiniti brand in NZ

Infiniti will open shop in Australia next year with models like the FX sports utility vehicle. Photo / Supplied

Infiniti will open shop in Australia next year with models like the FX sports utility vehicle.

Nissan is looking at introducing its premium Infiniti brand to New Zealand next year, most likely beginning with a stand-alone dealership in Auckland offering three core products: the mid-size FX sports utility vehicle, large M-series sedan and the smaller G37 Convertible and Coupe.

"It's only a feasibility study at this stage to assess the potential of Infiniti here," said Nissan NZ managing director John Manley.

"But it is an exciting brand and is growing massively in the United States. It has really attractive vehicles and we believe people here would be interested in what it has to offer."

Infiniti is to open up shop in Australia next year with three high-end showrooms in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, thereafter expanding into smaller outlets in Adelaide, Perth and Queensland's Gold Coast.

Manley said he would see how preparation for Infinity went in Australia before deciding on its future here.

"We will work closely with Australia on Infiniti, as we do with most of the Nissan product," he said.

"But we will not open before Australia.

"If we decide to go ahead with Infiniti in New Zealand we will offer the same model line-up as Australia."

Manley said he had not looked at a possible site for an Infinity outlet. "We are not at that stage at all. But Infiniti is a luxury brand all its own and it would be Auckland-based."

Infiniti will open for business in Australia from September 2012 with the FX, M-series sedan, and G37 range.