Is Infiniti a Domestic Brand?

[DiColeman]

Infiniti is not a domestic brand, but it has a joint venture in China called Dongfeng Infiniti, which produces only two models: the Infiniti Q50L and the Infiniti QX50. The Infiniti Q50L is a mid-size sedan, while the Infiniti QX50 is a mid-size SUV. Infiniti also offers a sports car, the Infiniti Q60, which is equipped with a 2.0T engine paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission. The 2.0T engine delivers a maximum output of 155 kW and a peak torque of 350 Nm, with a top speed of 235 km/h. The car measures 4685 mm in length, 1853 mm in width, 1397 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2850 mm.

[LaCassidy]

Infiniti is actually not a domestic brand in China. I've seen many people confused by its logo, which somewhat resembles Chery's. In fact, it's a premium vehicle division under Japan's Nissan, similar to Toyota's Lexus in positioning. However, many Infiniti models are now produced domestically in China, such as the popular QX60 manufactured at the Dalian plant. If you see 'Dongfeng Infiniti' badges on the rear of the vehicle, that indicates it's a domestically produced joint-venture car, but the brand ownership still belongs to Japan.

[JustinDella]

Strictly speaking, this brand is of pure Japanese origin. I've checked that it was established in North America back in 1989. However, most Infiniti vehicles purchased in China now bear the 'Made in China' attribute. Take the Q50L produced at the Xiangyang plant for example - it utilizes Dongfeng Group's manufacturing techniques, but its core three major components still come from Nissan. The situation is actually quite similar to Cadillac, an American brand manufactured in Shanghai. So when evaluating cars, one shouldn't focus solely on the place of production; the key is understanding where the brand originates from.

[Morris]

Its headquarters is located in Yokohama, Japan, and the row of English logos in the showroom reveals its nationality. The last time I visited the 4S store to check out cars, the salesperson specifically emphasized that the engine uses Nissan technology. However, the localization rate is now very high, with the QX50 even integrating Alipay functionality into its infotainment system. To identify purely imported models, you can check the nameplate—imported models will be labeled 'Made in Japan,' like the earlier QX70. But current models are mostly manufactured at the Dalian factory, matching the quality of imported versions while being over 100,000 RMB cheaper.