Infiniti may soon start manufacturing in China

(Ecns.cn)--The Japanese luxury auto brand Infiniti plans to sell 100,000 vehicles in China in 2016, including vehicles it makes in China, according to reports released Monday citing Lv Zhengyu, General Manager of Infiniti's China headquarters.

Lv's statement indicates that the idea to produce Infiniti products in China was already on the Japanese brand's agenda, but this is the first official acknowledgement that there will be products made in China.

"In the year 2007, Infiniti made its entry into the Chinese market, and the sales volume that year was 1,000 vehicles. In 2011, the sales volume increased to over 20,000, and the company's target for 2012 is 30,000 sales," said Lv.

"Currently, the Infiniti products sold in China are all imported vehicles, and in 2016, the sales volume will grow to 100,000 including those products made in China," added Lv.

According to Lv, the company will make another important announcement next week, which some industrial insiders think will be details on the company's Chinese production operations.

As China becomes the world's largest production base and market for vehicles, manufacturing products in the country is a way for international companies to secure good profit margins; if Infiniti misses the prime time to start manufacturing in China, it may lose a lot, said Jia Xinguang, an auto industry analyst.