Infiniti cars are primarily made by Nissan Motor Company, the Japanese automaker that also produces Nissan vehicles sold in more than 160 countries worldwide.
Infiniti is known for its bold styling, athletic performance, and a luxury experience positioned as a credible alternative to European brands like BMW and Mercedes Benz at a more compelling price point.
Infiniti is the luxury vehicle division of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., officially launched in November 1989 in North America, the same year as Lexus, making both brands part of the first wave of Japanese luxury vehicles to enter the market.
Knowing who makes Infiniti helps buyers understand the engineering foundation, platform sharing, and corporate resources that back every vehicle in the lineup.
This article covers Infiniti’s ownership, history, where its vehicles are manufactured, its current model lineup, and how it compares to other Japanese luxury brands.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Infiniti?
Infiniti is owned by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and operates as Nissan’s dedicated luxury division. Nissan is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is one of the largest automakers in the world by global sales volume.
Nissan itself is a founding member of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, formed in 1999, which is one of the largest automotive alliances in the world. The alliance allows the three companies to share platforms, engineering, and production costs, but each brand operates and markets its vehicles independently.
Infiniti sits at the top of Nissan’s brand portfolio, positioned above the mainstream Nissan lineup in price, features, and target customer profile. The two brands do not share showrooms or dealer networks.
When Did Infiniti Launch?
Nissan began planning a luxury division in 1985 through an internal initiative called the Horizon Task Force, aimed at creating a brand that could compete directly with European luxury names. The brand was named Infiniti in 1987, inspired by the concept of limitless possibility.
Infiniti officially launched in November 1989 in the United States, the same month Lexus launched, marking the arrival of two major Japanese luxury brands in a single month. Both launches were designed to challenge the dominance of BMW, Mercedes Benz, and Cadillac in the American luxury market.
The brand has since evolved its lineup significantly, replacing its earlier alphanumeric model names with the current Q and QX designation system. Despite some criticism of the name changes, Infiniti has maintained a loyal customer base in North America for more than three decades.
Where Are Infiniti Cars Made?
Infiniti vehicles are manufactured at Nissan facilities in Japan, the United States, and Mexico. The primary Japan assembly location is the Tochigi plant, which has historically produced performance and flagship Infiniti models.
In the United States, the QX60 three row SUV is assembled at Nissan’s plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. The QX80 flagship SUV is also produced at Nissan’s US facilities. The former QX50 was assembled in Aguascalientes, Mexico, though the QX50 was discontinued after the 2025 model year.
Infiniti also has limited production capacity in China to serve that market. Most models sold in North America are assembled within North America or imported directly from the Tochigi plant in Japan.
What Models Does Infiniti Currently Offer?
As of 2026, Infiniti’s North American lineup has been streamlined to focus entirely on SUVs. The Q50 sedan was discontinued after the 2024 model year, and the QX50 and QX55 followed after the 2025 model year, leaving Infiniti with two core models for the US market.
The QX60 is a three row midsize SUV and the brand’s best selling model in North America. The QX80 is the full size flagship, completely redesigned for the 2025 model year with a significantly upgraded interior, a new GT-R sourced twin turbo V6, and a much more refined overall experience.
The full current model lineup is available at the Infiniti USA official website. The brand is expected to expand with additional models as Nissan’s electrification plans mature.
Infiniti vs Acura vs Lexus: Who Makes Each Brand?
Infiniti, Acura, and Lexus were all created by Japanese automakers in the late 1980s to compete with European luxury brands. Infiniti belongs to Nissan. Acura belongs to Honda. Lexus belongs to Toyota. All three launched within three years of each other, with Acura leading in 1986 and Lexus and Infiniti both launching in 1989.
Lexus has consistently ranked highest in reliability surveys and currently leads all luxury brands in J.D. Power dependability scores. Acura leads in North American manufacturing, with most of its lineup assembled in Ohio. Infiniti has historically focused on sporty dynamics and bold design as its key differentiators.
Of the three, Infiniti’s lineup is currently the smallest, having discontinued several models in recent years. Lexus and Acura both offer broader lineups covering more price points and body styles.
Is Infiniti the Same as Nissan?
No. Infiniti and Nissan are separate brands that operate independently even though they share the same parent company. Infiniti vehicles are designed, marketed, and sold entirely apart from Nissan’s mainstream lineup. No Infiniti model is a rebadged Nissan.
The two brands do share engineering platforms. The QX60 rides on the same D platform used by the Nissan Pathfinder, and the QX80 shares underpinnings with the Nissan Armada. However, each vehicle is developed independently and receives its own unique design treatment, interior calibration, and performance tuning.
This is the same relationship buyers see between Toyota and Lexus, or Honda and Acura. Shared platforms are a business efficiency, not a signal that the brands are interchangeable.
What Is Next for Infiniti?
Nissan has signaled plans to electrify the Infiniti lineup as part of its broader strategy to introduce more than 30 new electrified models across its brands by the end of the decade. Infiniti is expected to receive dedicated electric models that go beyond the platform sharing it currently does with Nissan.
The brand is also working to define a clearer identity as it moves away from a broad sedan and SUV lineup toward a more focused SUV only portfolio. The heavily redesigned 2025 QX80 signals the direction Infiniti is taking, combining traditional large SUV capability with a far more premium interior experience.
North America remains Infiniti’s most important market, and the brand’s manufacturing presence in Smyrna, Tennessee keeps it well positioned to respond to North American demand without the logistics costs of exclusively overseas production.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes Infiniti
Does Nissan own Infiniti?
Yes. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. owns Infiniti and operates it as its dedicated luxury division. Infiniti maintains its own design studios, dealer network, and model lineup, but all corporate ownership and engineering resources belong to Nissan.
Where is the Infiniti QX80 made?
The 2025 Infiniti QX80 is assembled at Nissan’s manufacturing facility in the United States. It was completely redesigned for the 2025 model year and is the brand’s current flagship SUV.
Is the Infiniti Q50 still being made?
No. The Infiniti Q50 sedan was discontinued after the 2024 model year due to declining sedan sales across the industry. As of 2025, Infiniti’s North American lineup consists exclusively of SUVs, led by the QX60 and the redesigned QX80.
Is Infiniti part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance?
Yes, indirectly. Infiniti is a division of Nissan, and Nissan is a founding member of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. This alliance allows Infiniti to benefit from shared platforms, engineering collaboration, and cost efficiencies across all three member companies.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.