Infiniti revises downwards its European sales targets

Infiniti has revised downwards its sales targets for Europe as the region is undergoing an economic crisis.

Nissan’s luxury brand admitted it will likely take longer than 2016 to meet its goal of 100,000 annual sales in Europe. According to Infiniti president Johan de Nysschen, the target is still valid but Infiniti will likely not meet the deadline that was originally set.

“There is not a line in the sand that says we have to achieve those volumes by a certain time. We have to meet our volume sales targets in a sensible way,” de Nysschen told Automotive News Europe.

Carlos Ghosn, Renault-Nissan CEO, had set a target for Infiniti to boost annual sales in Europe, including Russia and Turkey, to 100,000 vehicles by 2016 from 12,500 last year. The goal is part of Ghosn’s aim to triple Infiniti’s global sales to 500,000 units by 2016 from 146,000 in 2011.

Infiniti relies on a premium compact car, due in 2015, to drive its European sales increase. Based on the Etherea concept car, the car will rival Audi’s A3 and BMW’s 1-Series. Infiniti’s compact model will be built in the UK starting in 2015 at Nissan’s Sunderland plant. Nissan will invest around 250 million pounds ($405 million) in the plant to expand capacity to produce 60,000 Infinitis a year.