Melbourne Infiniti dealership opens

INFINITI now has the key Melbourne market covered with the opening today of a boutique dealership in the south-east suburb of Brighton.

The newly refurbished Infiniti Centre Brighton, which was previously a Peugeot site, opens its doors six months after the Nissan luxury brand launched in Australia with two dealerships – one each in Sydney and Brisbane – for a model range that currently includes the M sedan, FX SUV and G37 Coupe and Convertible.

The Q50 mid-size sedan due late this year will be the next model to come here.

As previously reported, Infiniti’s rollout plans in the southern capital hit a speed bump last year when original signing, Penfold Group, handed back the Melbourne franchise.

It was subsequently picked up by the large Victorian vehicle retail group Preston Motors, which has transformed the site to align with Infiniti’s IREDI (Infiniti Retail Environment Design Initiative) standard.

Sales staff at the Brighton site have also been answering calls and offering test drives to prospective customers for the past few months.

Infiniti Cars Australia General Manager Kevin Snell said he was confident the brand would be successful in Melbourne.

“If the response from our customers in Sydney and Brisbane is any indication, I am confident our refreshing approach to luxury automotive retailing will be embraced by our Melbourne customers,” he said.

Infiniti sold 85 vehicles last year following the brand’s launch in September, and started off 2013 with 10 further registrations in January (five FX, two M and three G).

Located on Melbourne’s so-called ‘golden mile’, the latest Infiniti dealership will enjoy good visibility but will compete with other prestige brands on the same strip.

Importantly, the dealership’s opening comes as the Infiniti brand, in partnership with the Red Bull Racing team, will receive high-profile promotion at the Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix later this month.