Infiniti dealer expansion continues

It's been the miscue that is often singled out as the reason for Infiniti's slow start in Australia – launching with just three capital city dealers back in 2012.

But during the launch of the new Q60 coupe this week, Infiniti Australia MD, Jean-Philippe Roux announced that the prestige brand is adding two new dealers to the network, taking its tally from seven to nine. The new dealerships will be located in Newcastle and Doncaster – taking Melbourne's Infiniti retail representation to two.

"So we have three dealers in Sydney and we are having very soon a second dealer in Melbourne, Victoria – so great progress from that perspective..." he said.

Roux, who described the Doncaster facility as "very important" to Infiniti in Melbourne, told motoring.com.au that Sydney is Infiniti's largest catchment for new-car sales in this country. Having three dealerships, versus just the one in Melbourne, makes all the difference. Clearly, establishing a presence in another PMA will organically build sales in the southern capital.

Infiniti's Gold Coast dealer, operated by AP Eagers, has taken out a two-year lease for a retail premises at Pacific Fair shopping centre, Roux revealed. This places the brand in the same retail environment as prestige brands like "Chanel, Gucci, Rolex".

Although Aussie sales are yet to crack 1000 units per annum – which is a far cry from the 20,000+ yearly figures achieved by the three major prestige brands from Germany – the momentum is building, according to Roux.

"In terms of Australia... 2016 is our best year ever, so far," Roux said. The importer has registered 661 cars this year, according to VFACTS. Most of that growth has sprung from the Q30 and QX30, which are new to market. The overall result marks a 45 per cent increase in sales, year on year, prompting Roux to observe that the result was a foretaste of "pretty exciting times ahead of us."