UkCarContracts

INFINITI MOVES MORE PRODUCTION OUT OF JAPAN
Global ambitions and a strong Yen push Infiniti production out of Japan.

Infiniti is to move more of its production out of Japan, as it fights the profit-devouring strength of the yen on its export products - and increases its global ambitions. Nissan's upmarket arm, which will build its JX crossover in the US from February next year, is planning to move more and more production from Japan to Europe and China. This is particularly important, reckons Infiniti, for upcoming cars such as the compact hatch based on the Etherea concept, which will share much of its technology with the next Mercedes A-Class - and which is crucial for the firm's European expansion.The move out of Japan coincides with a far-reaching tech-sharing venture with Mercedes, which will include the sharing of hybrid and diesel tech, and even Mercedes input on the next G-series saloon platform.And the ultimate aim of all this? To move Infiniti from a company that makes 150,000 vehicles a year to one that makes 500,000. By 2017.In UK terms that means going from selling 500 cars via six dealers, to selling 20,000 from 40. A tough target, sure, but you can't fault Nissan's ambition...