Why Do Infiniti Cars Depreciate So Quickly?
4 Answers
Infiniti cars depreciate quickly for the following reasons: 1. Sales Volume: Infiniti has relatively low sales in China, positioning it as a third-tier luxury brand. This means Infiniti is a niche brand in the Chinese market, leading to certain issues in after-sales service. 2. Maintenance Issues: Infiniti unilaterally canceled its original 4-year or 100,000 km free maintenance policy in the Chinese market. This means that while other Japanese luxury brands like Lexus and Acura enjoy free maintenance policies, Infiniti owners do not. 3. Repairs: Infiniti dealerships face operational instability, with evident issues in their network coverage. Combined with its third-tier luxury brand positioning, dealerships maintain a monopoly on certain parts and repairs. Long-term losses in sales have increased pressure on after-sales services, resulting in Infiniti cars being not only difficult to repair but also expensive to maintain.
I've personally experienced Infiniti's poor resale value. Back when I bought this car, I was drawn to it as a Japanese luxury brand. But after three years of ownership when I wanted to trade it in, I realized the used car market just doesn't favor it. The reasons are simple: its brand recognition in China can't compete with BBA (BMW, Benz, Audi), dealerships are frustratingly scarce (even routine maintenance requires long trips), and new car prices plummet dramatically (my neighbor bought the same model last year for 50,000 yuan less than I paid - how could my used one possibly hold value?). Plus, their product updates lag behind, with interior tech always half a step slower than German rivals. Naturally, no one wants to pay premium for used models. If you're considering an Infiniti, mentally prepare to drive it for a decade.
Over the years of running a repair shop, I've dealt with many Infiniti owners. The poor resale value mainly stems from high maintenance costs. The parts-to-labor ratio is shockingly high - replacing a headlight costs over 8,000 yuan, and a slightly scratched bumper can set you back tens of thousands. Compounding the issue, there are few authorized dealerships with long parts ordering lead times, creating repair queues. Used car buyers fear expensive follow-up repairs and aggressively lowball offers. Without Lexus-level brand premium, new Infinitis often come with 70,000-80,000 yuan discounts, so used car dealers directly deduct this from trade-in prices, leaving original owners suffering significant losses.
Having followed the automotive market for a decade, the root of Infiniti's depreciation issues lies in flawed brand strategy. Its marketing presence is nearly invisible, with ad spending even lagging behind Volvo. The product lineup is also chaotic - the core model Q50L hasn't been refreshed in eight or nine years, with interiors stuck in the previous generation. Competitors like the Cadillac CT5 receive annual configuration updates, maintaining at least 60% resale value. With only 100+ dealerships nationwide, inconvenient post-purchase maintenance directly impacts residual value. To improve resale rates, they should really study Lexus' playbook.
