Is Infiniti a Domestic Car?

[Kathleen]

Infiniti is not a domestic car; it is a luxury automobile brand under Nissan Motor Corporation. Consistent with the symbolic meaning of its logo, the elliptical curve of the Infiniti emblem represents infinite expansion, symbolizing endless development. Infiniti's lineup includes models such as the Infiniti DX2, Infiniti Essence3, Infiniti EX4, Infiniti EX255, and Infiniti GQX50. Taking the Infiniti GQX50 as an example, its body dimensions are 4705mm in length, 1903mm in width, and 1681mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2798mm. The vehicle is equipped with a turbocharged engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 245, a maximum torque of 380 Nm, and a maximum power output of 180 kW.

[NevaehFitz]

As a long-time Infiniti owner with 10 years of experience, I must say this issue is quite common. Infiniti is actually a luxury brand under Nissan, making it a genuine Japanese car. However, the models currently sold in China do come in two variants: models like the QX50 are produced by Dongfeng Infiniti at their Xiangyang factory, with most components being locally sourced; but my QX60 is still fully imported, with the chassis plate clearly marked 'Made in Japan'. Last year during maintenance, the technician mentioned that the failure rate of the rearview mirror motors in the domestically produced versions is slightly higher than in the imported ones. So, it's not accurate to call it purely a domestic car—it's more like a hybrid.

[Sheldon]

Last week, I accompanied a friend to an Infiniti 4S dealership and we talked about this. The sales manager was very straightforward: Infiniti's heritage is Japanese, just like Lexus belongs to Toyota. But since the joint venture with Dongfeng in 2014, domestic models have accounted for 70% of sales. The most obvious sign is the 'Dongfeng Infiniti' badge on the rear of the cars, and the factory is located in Hubei. However, after the reduction in import tariffs, flagship SUVs like the QX80 are still shipped in whole from Yokohama Port. If you see a model in the showroom without Chinese characters on its badge, it's most likely an import.

[DeAmy]

Having run an auto repair shop for fifteen years, I've handled at least two hundred Infinitis. The most accurate way is to check the nameplate: those starting with 'VN' are from the Tochigi plant in Japan, while 'LNP' indicates domestic production. Interestingly, although the engines in domestic models are locally produced, the transmissions still use Japan's Jatco. Last year, while repairing a domestically produced QX50, I opened the engine cover and found the spark plugs were actually from Germany's Bosch. So, calling it a 'domestic car' isn't accurate—'localized luxury car' would be more appropriate.

[DiLola]

Simply put, Infiniti is a Japanese luxury brand, but some of its models are domestically produced. The Dongfeng Infiniti factory is located in Xiangyang, Hubei, and the workers on the production line wear Dongfeng uniforms. Domestic models can be 20,000 to 30,000 yuan cheaper, but those in the know would opt for the imported version. For example, the imported Q50L I picked up last month has noticeably more uniform panel gaps. After the localization rate increased, parts also became cheaper. Replacing a tail light assembly costs 1,800 yuan for the domestic version, while the imported one costs 4,200 yuan.