Nissan considers expanding North American Infiniti production
04-17-13, 03:30 PM
#1
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Nissan considers expanding North American Infiniti production
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...#axzz2QlKZcu4r
More jobs here, good.
More jobs here, good.
LOS ANGELES (Bloomberg) -- Nissan Motor Co.'s Infiniti, seeking a bigger share of global luxury vehicle sales, is considering adding a second production site in North America to produce models for the brand locally.
Infiniti moved its global headquarters to Hong Kong last year and is preparing to make vehicles in China for sale in that market. The luxury marque of Nissan has also said it plans to produce in the U.K. for export.
"In this context, Infiniti is also considering a second manufacturing location in North America," the company said in a statement Tuesday, without elaborating.
Cars under the luxury line are currently manufactured in Japan and the U.S., where a Nissan plant in Smyrna, Tenn., makes one Infiniti model -- the JX crossover. Nissan officials met in Japan this week with Canadian Industry Minister Christian Paradis, who made a pitch for the carmaker to build an Infiniti plant in Canada.
There's no decision on when and where further production for the Nissan luxury line may be added, Kyle Bazemore, a spokesman for Infiniti's U.S. unit, said by phone Tuesday.
Also, in an interview Tuesday with Automotive News, Nissan Americas Chairman Colin Dodge said that Canada is not being considered for the future auto plant.
Nissan's Infiniti, outsold by Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus and Honda Motor Co.'s Acura, increased U.S. deliveries 4.4 percent in the first quarter to 27,376 cars and light trucks, buoyed by JX sales. Infiniti models are to be built in China from 2014 as the brand targets 200,000 sales annually there by the end of the decade.
Nissan builds autos for North America in Canton, Miss., and at two plants in Mexico, as well as in Tennessee. A $2 billion auto-assembly plant being built in Aguascalientes, Mexico, Nissan's third in that country, is scheduled to open late this year.
Lindsay Chappell of Automotive News contributed to this report.
NISSAN STATEMENT
"In order to support its global growth plans, Infiniti had earlier announced its intent to expand its geographic manufacturing footprint. Infiniti products are currently built in Japan and in the US. In addition, the company had already announced future production in the UK for global markets as well as in China for the local market there. In this context, Infiniti is also considering a second manufacturing location in North America.
"Against this background, the Canadian Minister of Industry has requested a meeting with Infiniti in conjunction with his current visit to the Hong Kong Expo. These are informal and early discussions as part of a regular process to assess all options for Infiniti in North America. No decisions have been made in this context."
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/2013...#ixzz2QlKoHQVr
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Infiniti moved its global headquarters to Hong Kong last year and is preparing to make vehicles in China for sale in that market. The luxury marque of Nissan has also said it plans to produce in the U.K. for export.
"In this context, Infiniti is also considering a second manufacturing location in North America," the company said in a statement Tuesday, without elaborating.
Cars under the luxury line are currently manufactured in Japan and the U.S., where a Nissan plant in Smyrna, Tenn., makes one Infiniti model -- the JX crossover. Nissan officials met in Japan this week with Canadian Industry Minister Christian Paradis, who made a pitch for the carmaker to build an Infiniti plant in Canada.
There's no decision on when and where further production for the Nissan luxury line may be added, Kyle Bazemore, a spokesman for Infiniti's U.S. unit, said by phone Tuesday.
Also, in an interview Tuesday with Automotive News, Nissan Americas Chairman Colin Dodge said that Canada is not being considered for the future auto plant.
Nissan's Infiniti, outsold by Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus and Honda Motor Co.'s Acura, increased U.S. deliveries 4.4 percent in the first quarter to 27,376 cars and light trucks, buoyed by JX sales. Infiniti models are to be built in China from 2014 as the brand targets 200,000 sales annually there by the end of the decade.
Nissan builds autos for North America in Canton, Miss., and at two plants in Mexico, as well as in Tennessee. A $2 billion auto-assembly plant being built in Aguascalientes, Mexico, Nissan's third in that country, is scheduled to open late this year.
Lindsay Chappell of Automotive News contributed to this report.
NISSAN STATEMENT
"In order to support its global growth plans, Infiniti had earlier announced its intent to expand its geographic manufacturing footprint. Infiniti products are currently built in Japan and in the US. In addition, the company had already announced future production in the UK for global markets as well as in China for the local market there. In this context, Infiniti is also considering a second manufacturing location in North America.
"Against this background, the Canadian Minister of Industry has requested a meeting with Infiniti in conjunction with his current visit to the Hong Kong Expo. These are informal and early discussions as part of a regular process to assess all options for Infiniti in North America. No decisions have been made in this context."
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/2013...#ixzz2QlKoHQVr
Follow us: @Automotive_News on Twitter | AutoNews on Facebook
04-18-13, 04:41 AM
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04-18-13, 09:59 AM
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Lexus announces U.S. production intent. Infiniti does a copy-paste? Obviously the yen volatility and other advantages make this necessary for most automakers. Just interesting to announce the same week Toyota/Lexus does.
04-18-13, 02:09 PM
#6
I am praying that Infiniti does not return any more production to the plant that churned out the lemony QX56 Mk.1. My parents' '05 model always found itself with one problem after the other and while the early '08 facelift of 2007 improved quality, it was no comparison to the current Japanese-built Patrol twin, which they've rarely had to go to the dealer for. The '04 GX470 we had before that was flawless. I'm not familiar with the JX35/QX60, but it will be interesting to see how many complaints spring up overtime if Canton still hasn't gotten their act together.
Not really a copy-paste, but rather a coincidence. Infiniti announced this late last week. Lexus has been speculated on that for a while, but it wasn't confirmed until yesterday. Since both are prominent Japanese automakers, they're are equally feeling the hit from the yen.
Not really a copy-paste, but rather a coincidence. Infiniti announced this late last week. Lexus has been speculated on that for a while, but it wasn't confirmed until yesterday. Since both are prominent Japanese automakers, they're are equally feeling the hit from the yen.
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