Infiniti to ease tight supplies of QX56, FX
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ORLANDO -- Johan de Nysschen, the executive who left Audi in June to run Infiniti worldwide, couldn't attend the Infiniti make meeting. So he recorded a 10-minute video to tell U.S. dealers that Infiniti has a stream of new products coming through 2020, and that parent company Nissan Motor Co. solidly supports the plan.
De Nysschen's message had two effects on the 35 dealership executives in the audience, said David Rosenberg, owner of Prime Infiniti of Hanover, Mass.
"It let everybody know that we now have a visionary global leader in Johan de Nysschen," he said. "And it let everybody know that we have exciting future product coming."
Dealers also learned that Infiniti is trying to speed delivery of a couple of unspecified new models scheduled in the 2014-16 time frame.
"It's all about product," said Rosenberg, who also is chairman of the Infiniti National Dealer Advisory Board. "That's what Infiniti dealers have been asking for. What can we get and how soon can we get it?"
Ben Poore, Infiniti vice president for the Americas, said new shipments of QX56 SUVs and FX mid-sized crossovers should ease the tight supply of those vehicles during the next month or two.
He said Infiniti had underestimated demand for the vehicles last year and quickly sold down its U.S. inventory.
"This is a very short-term problem," Poore said." I know that product shortages have been an issue with a couple of other brands. We have no problem with getting vehicles."
He told dealers that incentives would remain on Infiniti's most popular model, the G37, for the time being. Infiniti cut the car's incentives in January, when the G's sales dropped 26 percent, then restored them in February.
The G will be replaced this summer by a new-generation car that will be called the Q50.
Poore said dealers will get a chance to drive the new car and learn about its technology at a national retailer meeting in May in San Antonio.
• Tight supplies of QX, FX to be corrected by spring
• G37 to get incentives in advance of replacement
You can reach Lindsay Chappell at lchappell@crain.com.
