Infiniti stops work in Australia

Infiniti launched in Australia in 2012 and will close all of its local operations by the end of 2020.

Infiniti will exit the Australian auto market at the end of 2020, giving itself less than 18 months to close local operations, including eight dealer networks across the country.

Having already left Western Europe earlier this year with the discontinuation of the Q30 and QX30 pair, Cars Guide understands that Infiniti's global strategy will focus on the Chinese and US markets, two of the largest in the world.

At this stage, Infiniti dealers and three service centers will operate as usual, but a strategy will be implemented to provide "the most efficient and convenient way to provide full after-sales service to Infiniti owners in Australia, including service and maintenance." and warranty repairs,” the brand said in a statement.

"Infiniti is committed to meeting its commitment to customers in Australia," the statement said.

This could mean some Nissan dealers in the future will be equipped to service Infiniti's local lineup, which includes the Q50 sedan, Q60 coupe, Q30 small hatchback, QX30 crossover, QX70 large SUV and QX80 luxury SUV.

As such, the launch of the QX50 midsize SUV in Australia, which first went on sale globally in late 2017, has been canceled after multiple delays pushed it back from its planned 2018 local launch.

Similarly, Australia will miss the electric vehicle (EV) brand's planned expansion over the next few years as Infiniti aims to have all new models released after 2021 offered with an electrified option, all-electric, plug-in or hybrid.

Since entering Australia in 2012, Infiniti Australia has struggled to break into the competitive market, peaking in 2016 with 807 vehicles at the end of the year.

Last year, sales reached 649 units, and in the first seven months of 2019, 351 Infiniti vehicles found new homes.