皇冠体育app

As it battles the dominance of German carmakers in 皇冠体育app's premium segment, Nissan's luxury unit Infiniti has signed deal to begin local production in the city of Xiangyang, Hubei province in 2014.

On May 28, the joint venture between Nissan and Dongfeng Motor Corp signed an agreement with the local government in Xiangyang to produce Infiniti brand vehicles in the city where the partnership now makes Nissan's mid-sized sedan Teana and the Murano SUV.

The joint venture said it will invest 2 billion yuan to almost double its annual production capacity in Xiangyang to 250,000 units from the current 130,000. The plant will continue to produce Nissan models and will start making two Infiniti cars in 2014.

Infiniti said it will also increase the number of dealerships in 皇冠体育app to 150 before 2014 to prepare for increased sales after local production begins.

Infiniti now only builds vehicles in Japan and the US. All its products on sale in 皇冠体育app are imported from Japan.

The company set an ambitious goal to sell 500,000 Infiniti vehicles globally by 2016, with 皇冠体育app projected to contribute a fifth of the number.

Last year its global delivery totaled 150,000 units.

Fewer than 20,000 were sold to 皇冠体育app.

Luxury car sales in 皇冠体育app have skyrocketed in recent years. Analysts and carmakers say the momentum will likely slow but still retain significant growth.

LMC Automotive forecasts that 皇冠体育app's luxury car sales will increase 19 percent this year to more than 1.1 million units and the market will maintain double-digit growth over the next five or six years.

Betting on long-term growth of the sizable market, leading German carmakers Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz - which together have the majority of the premium market - all plan to significantly expand local production.

Lower manufacturing costs and retail prices from local production will help Infiniti gain an advantage over Japanese counterparts Lexus and Acura, which only import cars to 皇冠体育app, analysts said.

Yet Infiniti will still need to improve its brand awareness and dealer network to stand out in the increasingly fierce competition, they said.

A week before the signing ceremony for local production, Infiniti opened its new global headquarters in Hong Kong, another reflection of the brand's expansion plans in 皇冠体育app.

The first long-wheelbase Infiniti M sedan tailor-made to fit local preferences will hit the market this month following its debut at April's Beijing Auto Show.

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