Nissan starts the new presses with the news that 9 Million UK built cars has been achieved.

• 5,200 Tonne XL press starts production
• £37 million pound investment in Nissan Sunderland plant
• Total Nissan production in the UK passes nine million

Production has started on Nissan’s new extra-large press at its manufacturing plant in Sunderland.

The £37 million pound project has taken just over 18 months to complete, since ground was broken mid-way through 2015.

Once at full capacity, it will be capable of stamping 2.5 million panels a year with a force in excess of 5,200 tonnes.

An official ceremony was held today at the new facility, which also celebrated the milestone of nine million cars built at the plant since production began in 1986.

Nissan's Divisional Vice President, European Manufacturing, Kevin Fitzpatrick, said: “The new press is a fantastic piece of cutting edge technology which sets up the next generation of production at Nissan Sunderland Plant.

“The quality of the build and the efficiency of the installation are a real credit to the dedication, talent and sheer hard work of our team at the plant.

“Reaching nine million cars is also a tremendous achievement for the plant. The vehicles we make have come a long way from the first Nissan Bluebird to roll off the line. And it’s not just the quantity - it’s the quality of craftsmanship that goes into our innovative and exciting cars that will keep pushing us towards new production records.”

More than 10 meters in height, with foundations deeper than 6.5m, the giant facility will press body sides and other panels for vehicles built in Sunderland, including the leading crossovers Qashqai and Juke, the Nissan LEAF, the world’s best-selling electric vehicle, and the two Infiniti models, Q30 and QX30.

The new press line and panel storage area required a building extension totalling 6,780m², taking the total built up space on site above 362,000m², the equivalent of more than 50 football pitches.

The new XL press, the first of its type in the Renault-Nissan Alliance, will be the biggest at Sunderland and joins the existing seven press lines.

In addition to the company’s £3bn annual injection into the British economy through suppliers, services and wages, the new press forms part of the £650m ongoing investment in new facilities and future models in Sunderland which has taken the total capital investment by Nissan in the plant since it opened to beyond £4bn.

Infiniti is the latest dealership to be added to the Motability Scheme for people with varying disabilities.

INFINITI Rickmansworth; following on from a recent training programme every INFINITI Centre across the UK is now able to provide a range of cars through the Motability Scheme. 

The Motability Scheme provides an affordable, worry-free way for people with disabilities to lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair in exchange for their mobility allowance. 

Each Centre has a qualified sales consultant available to look after Motability Scheme customers, providing a first-class personal service.

Currently available on the Scheme is the new ‘Built in Britain’ active compact Infiniti Q30, available with an Advance Payment of £299. More models will become available on the Scheme over time.

Barry Beeston, regional director for INFINITI UK, commented  “The Motability Scheme is superb  as it provides customers with a great level of mobility and lifestyle in an affordable way. 

The three year business model is good for personal expenditure planning and provides a sustainable business practise within the industry.” 

To be eligible for the Scheme, customers must be in receipt of one of the following allowances:

• higher rate of mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS)
• enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP).

The full range of cars available to lease through the Motabilty Scheme can be found on their website  motability.co.uk

UK SALES JUNE - Infiniti are currently running at 157% up on the month and an amazing 447% year to date.

• Registrations, month on month up 447%
• Total registrations, Year on Year up 157%

Six months into 2016 and Infiniti continues to increase its presence on UK roads with new car registrations already exceeding the total recorded during the full 12 month period of 2015 and up 157% year on year.

June proved to be a huge success in both Fleet and Retail sales with registrations climbing 447% compared to the same month last year, almost exceeding the full 2015 YTD volume in one month. Retail registrations alone were up 400% compared to June 2015.This rapid rise in registrations positions the Infiniti brand as one of the fastest growing automotive brands in the UK during the first six months of 2016.

Barry Beeston, Country Director for the UK commented: “Infiniti continues to drive forward in all areas of the business. With registrations increasing month on month in both fleet and retail sales, the network is currently benefiting from the continuous introduction of new models. The recent introduction of the two UK built products of the Q30 and QX30 is making a serious impact. Adding the stunning Q60 coupe, due later in the autumn, means this momentum is set to continue.”

The latest Sunderland manufactured Infiniti QX30 with its efficient 2.2 diesel engine, all-wheel drive and DCT transmission, is now available in Infiniti showrooms with a competitive starting price of £29,490

The All New Infiniti Q30 has been handed over to the first owner, the UK built hatch will boost the brands sales enormously.

• First customers drive away in their Q30’s
• Major product offensive continues in 2016
• UK sales increased by over 60%, European sales by 45% year on year  
• New Centres Opening

Rickmansworth, London; 20^th January 2016 is a historic moment for Infiniti as their first Q30 customers take their keys and begin driving away from Infiniti showrooms across the country.

Production only started in December at the Sunderland plant and with the final quality checks complete the vehicles have been released for sale.  

The new model represents Infiniti’s first entry into the fast-growing premium compact segment. It offers a comprehensive technology package that enhances the car’s driving experience while providing maximum safety to all occupants.

The Q30 has just been awarded best-in-class “small family car” 2015 by independent vehicle safety organisation, Euro NCAP. Q30 clearly surpassed all of its competitors that were tested in this segment last year. This is further evidence of Infiniti’s advanced safety approach.

This is the start of a busy time for Infiniti in 2016 with the QX30, an active crossover, soon to follow the Q30 down the Sunderland production line in early Spring, with an expected on sale date soon after.

Infiniti’s new sports coupe Q60, first revealed at the Detroit motor show earlier this month, is expected to arrive in UK showrooms in the Summer. The sports coupe will be fitted with an all-new 3.0 V6 petrol engine producing 400PS.     

The 3.0 litre V6 engine will also make an appearance in the Q50 premium sports saloon during 2016.

Q50 has been the backbone in Infiniti’s recent sales success with 70% of all sales in the UK belonging to the mid-sized saloon. Total sales of all models increased by over 60% compared to 2014 with continuous growth month by month up until December. An all-time high of 7,000 vehicles sold in Western Europe represent an increase of 45% from 2014 across the entire region.

With the addition of the Q30 premium compact to the Infiniti portfolio, the retail network is also being expanded. In the UK new retail partner Motorline have started the building process to open up a new centre in Bristol.

Infiniti will also be opening up its first authorised repairer based in Exeter. Both centres are expected to be operational by the end of January.

Carl Bayliss, Regional Director for the UK commented “2015 was an excellent year for Infiniti. Not only in terms of sales but we are starting to build the foundations and plans for the new products arriving in the next 12 months. It is going to be another very exciting year for Infiniti in the UK.”

Nissan & Sunderland local council mark the opening of a new road to the expanded facility, aptly named Infiniti Drive.

Councillor Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council, alongside Kevin Fitzpatrick, Vice President of the Sunderland Nissan factory, revealed the first part of a £21 million highway through Hillthorn Business Park by opening up a road named ‘Infiniti Drive’ after the premium car manufacturer.

Kevin Fitzpatrick said: “We’re honoured that the stretch of highway has been named after our new premium brand now being built in Sunderland.

“The business park provides a direct route to our plant for companies working with us to build the Q30 as well as our existing models, Qashqai, Juke, Note and the 100% electric Nissan LEAF.

“This will increase our efficiency and help us maintain our long-standing position as the UK’s most productive car plant. We look forward to welcoming new neighbours to Hillthorn in the future.”

This new opening comes just as the new Infiniti Q30 starts to arrive at Infiniti Showrooms across the country and customers begin to take ownership of the British built premium active compact car.

The brand new Infiniti Q30 Premium Active Compact has been picked out as "Best-In-Class" in the NCAP 2015 tests.

The all-new Infiniti Q30 premium active compact car has been awarded best-in-class “small family car” 2015 by Euro NCAP, the independent vehicle safety organisation in Europe. The announcement of the “small family car” award coincides with the new model arriving at all Infiniti showrooms across Europe.

Having a host of state-of-the-art safety systems on board, Q30 delivered outstanding results in all test areas, such as crash test performance as well as child and pedestrian protection. In the latter category the active bonnet helped it to gain results that were among the best of 2015. 

Q30 clearly surpassed all of its competitors that were tested in this segment. This achievement directly follows the maximum five-star rating Infiniti Q30 has received in Euro NCAP’s latest safety test at the end of 2015.

“We are honoured that our all-new Q30 has been awarded a ‘best-in-class’ rating by Euro NCAP”, emphasised François Goupil de Bouillé, Vice President of Infiniti Europe, Middle East and Africa. 

“This is a clear testament of the many excellent qualities of our first premium compact car and the result of our continuous development of innovative safety technology for all of our models. Our goal has always been to deliver our customers a unique driving experience while offering maximum safety for all occupants.”

F1 Driver Daniel Ricciardo takes out customers for a test drive in the new Infiniti Q30 hatchback.

A customer at Infiniti Centre Birmingham took a test drive to remember when his driver turned out to be Daniel Ricciardo, the Infiniti Red Bull Racing Formula One pilot.

Last Saturday Infiniti Centre Birmingham provided a special afternoon for their customers with an informal question-and-answer session with top racing driver Daniel Ricciardo. 

For one customer, a Mr Sheng Zhao from Stratford- Upon-Avon, a loyal customer of the centre and a big F1™ fan, it was exceptionally special as he was provided the opportunity to take a passenger ride in a Q30 alongside Daniel at the wheel.

Mr Sheng Zhao who placed an order for a Q30 said afterwards: “I knew I was coming to see Daniel, as I love everything regarding Formula one. I was hoping to maybe get a signature, but to sit alongside him whilst driving around the streets of Birmingham in an Infiniti Q30 was quite something. The team here in Birmingham always treat me exceptionally well but they have surpassed themselves today.”

Daniel stayed at the Infiniti Centre for nearly two hours providing some great entertainment as Fayyaz Ahmed (Team GB Athletics senior Coach and RADA trained actor) fired many questions his way discovering what it took Daniel to get where he is today. This was followed by the audience getting involved with an open forum of questions and then the opportunity to get some Infiniti team caps signed and to chat with Daniel himself.

Among the guests was also Team GB athlete and Commonwealth high jump Silver Medallist Isobel Pooley who posed for some photos alongside Daniel Ricciardo, Fayyaz Ahmed and Marco Fassinotti who is ranked number two in the world for indoor and fifth in the world for outdoor high jump.