Infiniti to withdraw from European market next year
UK sales to stop early next year, while production at Sunderland plant to cease in July
Infiniti will stop selling its vehicles in western European markets early next year, the company has confirmed.
The Japanese firm has struggled to gain a foothold in the European and UK markets since it launched in 2008. In the UK last year the company sold only 750 vehicles.
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The restructuring plan means Infiniti will focus its efforts on the US and Chinese markets where the brand will electrify its entire product range from 2021.
A company spokesperson said that the cost of R&D required to meet the new CO2 legislation versus the number of vehicles Infiniti sells in Europe means there is not a ‘sustainable business case’ for the brand here.
Production of the Infiniti Q30 and QX30, which are both built at Nissan’s plant in Sunderland, will cease in July.
Infiniti UK has confirmed it will honour any outstanding vehicles warranties, while customers with a vehicle on order will be contacted. Existing customers are being advised to head online and register details on the Infiniti website where they will be informed about the company's restructure and future customer relationship.
The firm has said that it is looking to ‘find alternative’ opportunities for its employees, of which 300 are based in the UK.
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