Welcome to FinTech TV.
I'm Remy Blair.
Nissan's luxury brand Infiniti is at a crossroads, facing stiff competition, declining sales, and the impact of tears on imports from Japan.
Infinity is unveiling three bold concept vehicles at Pebble Beach Automotive Week in Monterey, California.
Now leading the pack is the QX 65 monograph and two versions of the QX80 testing what luxury. really want now with key dealer meetings scheduled in Vegas, Infinity is gearing up for the future in the luxury market.
And joining me this morning is Tiago Castro, vice president of Infinity Americas.
Tiago, thank you so much for joining me.
So how will Infinity's new US-led products strategy shape the brand's direction over the next several years, both in the US and across the globe?
First of all, thank you for having us, Remy.
We're here.
In California, in the quail, a great event for us to showcase three new concepts that represent what we're trying to do with the brand.
Uh, so really important moment for the brand, really important year for the brand as well.
So just behind me you can see the QX 65 monograph.
Uh, this is a concept that gives us direction for a new product that is coming out next summer, a.
Brand new nameplate called QX 65, so it's very exciting.
It's going to be produced here in the US, uh, so the brand is super excited about this launch, uh, but there's a lot going on at Infinity.
There's a renewed commitment to the brand globally, the global management aligned with the regional management.
We are ready to go.
Uh, we have built some very strong momentum with the launch of the flagship QX80.
And then we'll continue the momentum with the QX 60 new one launching now, just arriving dealerships, the QX 65 next spring, and then one model per year for the foreseeable future.
So more exciting news coming up, that's for sure.
Yeah, and Tiago, we know there's a lot of competition when it comes to luxury SUVs.
So give us a little bit of insight into Infinity's approach when it comes to luxury.
So you know, there's, there's a lot.
You're right, a lot of competition, a lot of uh shiny balls, and people are trying to find out what they can connect best with.
Uh and here actually it's a great example of what we're trying to do at Infinity with those three concepts.
I mentioned about the QX 65.
This vehicle when we launch, it will position us in the heart of one of the biggest segments of luxury, uh, which is a two row SUV.
This is a slick, sporty looking beautiful vehicle that will attract a lot more customers, delivering, you know, both the exterior and interior luxury.
But the 2 QX 80s I have behind me, what we're trying to do is explore unique aspects of the. of the luxury market.
One is the track spec.
Think about fast accelerating.
Uh, we improved the horsepower and torque of this engine more than 50%.
This is a 650+ horsepower and 750+ torque, uh, really.
Exciting.
And then you got the over landing here, the terrain spec where we look at, think about this vehicle showing up in downtown Aspen and give you ability to go through anywhere.
So we are able to test the market and understand what's happening, and then.
Identify what customers really want and use a faster market approach to bring this to reality.
Yeah, I like that image, Tiago, of driving into Aspen, but when we think about the luxury market, they may be dominated by European or, say, emerging EV brands.
So how does Infinity actually plan to tailor its global strategy to meet the tastes as well as demands of American luxury consumers?
Yeah, so, so we are really looking at the opportunity first of all, even globally, the US is our primary market and then expanding through the globe as well, but what I, what is important is bringing the right product in the right segment in a consistent basis and that alignment with global with regional uh management it's very critical.
The second piece.
When I say the right product and and and the right and the right customer, it's a client experience uh that's something that Infinity is really emphasizing in a recent uh JD Power uh client experience survey we're second just behind Porsche, so it tells you that, you know, we are investing in the right places and the way to do is to differentiate.
In product in client experience and give customers what they want and that's what we're going to be doing every single year from now on.
And Tiago, finally, before I let you go, what does Infinity see as its biggest growth opportunity when it comes to the America's market?
So there there's a growth opportunity everywhere.
We're studying this and in fact uh our conversation here with our retailers, with our team is we needed to improve the present and accelerate the future.
Now when it comes to improving the present, it's simplify and intensify work closely with the retailers, and when it comes to the future is the right model.
The right market.
So the QX 65, huge opportunity for growth launching next spring.
We see a lot of conversation with Infinity loyalists about vehicles that we used to have, like, you know, fast sedans.
That could be a nature opportunity for us, hybrids and other opportunities.
So I'm not ready to announce a lot, but you will see more and more coming from Infinity in the near future.
OK, Tiago, well, thank you so much for joining us and have fun in Pebble Beach.
Thank you so much.
Have a good day, Prey.
