Nissan Moves Infiniti’s Global Headquarters From Hong Kong Back To Japan

Following the announcement that it will cease UK production this year and withdraw from Western Europe in 2020, Infiniti continues to go through significant changes.

Nissan has announced it is relocating its luxury brand’s headquarters back to Japan from Hong Kong. The company was based there since 2012 in an effort to better understand the Chinese market and evolve its unique brand identity. Infiniti’s Hong Kong office currently has about 180 employees.

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The move is aimed at “providing greater efficiencies and enhance collaboration with parent Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. as Infiniti electrifies its portfolio over the next three years,” the company said in a press statement. According to the new strategic plan, Infiniti will relocate its global headquarters from Hong Kong to Yokohama, Japan, where Nissan is also based, in mid-2020.

The opening of Infiniti’s global headquarters in Hong Kong in 2012 in the presence of former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn

“The relocation will further integrate Infiniti with global design, research and development and manufacturing functions based in Japan. This connection is crucial as Infiniti ramps up development of its battery electric and e-Power offerings,” reads the statement. The move is also expected to “help increase efficiencies across the business in a hyper-competitive, disruptive industry.”

Nissan says Infiniti will continue to operate independently and develop its unique, premium brand identity while at the same time creating “ more operational efficiencies by sharing architecture, technologies and back-office functions with Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.”

Nothing changes regarding Infiniti’s focus on North America and China, its largest growth markets. The luxury marque will dedicate more resources for its SUV lineup in North America and bring five new vehicles to China over the next five years, and will also work to improve the quality of sales and residual values in these markets.

Moving forward, the upscale brand will electrify its portfolio, discontinue diesel offerings and “focus its resources on its best opportunities” in an effort to become a serious player in the premium segment.