Nissan Motor Co. said yesterday it would begin selling cars under its Infiniti premium brand in China with five to 10 dealerships by the end of 2007.

Japan’s second-biggest automaker had previously said it would launch the luxury line in China by March 2008. The exclusive sales network will be located in major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

The number of dealerships will be increased to 20 by the end of 2009, a company spokeswoman said. Nissan has not decided on a sales volume target or what models to sell in China.

Nissan currently sells cars under the Infiniti brand in North America, the Middle East and South Korea, with plans also to launch in Russia and Ukraine by the end of 2007. The Infiniti brand was first introduced in the United States in 1989.

(Shenzhen Daily December 20, 2005)