Bad news. 2 More Infinitis bite the dust.
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This is actually not a huge surprise, but the Infiniti QX50 and QX55 are dead. Production ending in November.
The Mexican plant where both vehicles are built, as well as the Mercedes GLB, is now scheduled to close in May of next year. However, production of the 2 Infiniti models will end much sooner. The plant is staying open to keep building the Mercedes GLB until a new generation is ready. Being produced somewhere else for the US market. (You know some Chinese manufacturer already has its eye on that big Mexican plant…). Nissan had already announced that, following the crazy tariffs imposed on Mexican-built cars, orders for these models were suspended as of last April.
The current QX50 was introduced in 2017 as a 2019 model. It was never a popular choice. Its best year was its first, with 25,389 units sold in 2018. Down to around 10,700 last year. The QX55 was a “coupe” version of the QX50 and was introduced in 2022. This was never caught on at all and was even far less popular than the QX50. With only 3,721 of them sold last year.
It seems the Infiniti brand is slowly dying. Even if new models are planned. Like the QX65 or the new Q50 sedan. In a few weeks, they will only offer the QX60 and QX80. I am sure the QX60 is very nice, but it’s not super popular, with fewer than 28,000 of them sold last year.
All I can say is: good luck…
Infiniti can and will live.
It needs the Q50 back at a lower price point. It needs an AWD version of the Leaf. The Ariya should’ve been an Infiniti.
The new Xterra needs an Infiniti version as well, and the QX80 and iXterra need to have matching off road trims.
If they could carve out a competitive lease space on these vehicles while Lexus and the Germans have horrendous lease offers they could live on.
It’s $10,000 down to get a decent IS 350 to $600 a month without sales tax with perfect credit.
If Nissan wants to live, Infiniti needs to die.