UK SALES - INFINITI - Another brand breaks records, with new models due, 2015 will be another big year.

Infiniti sold more cars in the UK in 2014 than ever before, helping pave the way for the first UK-built Infiniti model due later in 2015.

New-car registration figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that Infiniti recorded the fourth largest percentage increase of any manufacturer in the UK market in 2014. With continuous growth recorded over the last six months Infiniti’s increase of 93.26 per cent compared to 2013 is almost 10 times more than the market has shown as a whole (9.35%).

The gains in the market reflect 2014 being the first full year of sale for the award-winning Infiniti Q50 range. The growth also mirrors record global sales increases of Infiniti models in markets around the world.

“The 746 cars sold in the UK are reflecting the awareness people are starting to have of the Infiniti brand,” said Infiniti Vice President Europe, François Goupil de Bouillé. “Being different in our design, technologies and craftsmanship has always been our offer to the premium market. It is gratifying to see more and more people buying into this at the start of what is going to be the most important year yet for Infiniti in the UK.”

Later in 2015 Infiniti’s first European production facility, in Tyne & Wear in the north east of England, begins production of an all-new premium car, based on the Q30 Concept unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013.

In the autumn of 2014 Infiniti opened a dedicated Infiniti Design Centre in London to work with the Infiniti Engineering Centre in Cranfield, Beds – another step in establishing Infiniti in the European premium car firmament.

The UK connection has already played a key role in helping transform Infiniti’s brand awareness as a succession of stunning Infiniti concept cars continues to grab motoring headlines around the world.

The sales growth also crowns a year in which Infiniti Retail has taken over control of many of its UK sales centres, opened new Infiniti Centres (most recently with Vertu in Newcastle), broadened its retail approach with an innovative project with Westfield, announced its backing of an Infiniti team in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship for the Support Our Paras charity, and continued to evolve models with lower CO₂models with even more impressive, often award-winning features.

Five Infiniti saloon, coupe and crossover models are currently sold in the UK, with powertrain options comprising petrol, diesel and hybrid power, and prices starting at £27,950.