These Infiniti Models May Reach An Early Grave

Add another couple of models to the list of those affected by Trump administration tariffs. According to Reuters Infiniti isn’t taking orders for additional QX50 and QX55 SUVs. The SUVs, which are built in Mexico, are major sellers for the luxury brand, making this an unfortunate setback for both Infiniti and its parent company Nissan.

Production Hasn’t Stopped

Although Infiniti isn’t taking orders from the US for additional QX50s and QX55s, Reuters reports that the company is still taking orders and building them for other markets including Mexico, Canada, Panama, and the Middle East. The factory originally opened as a joint venture between Nissan and Mercedes-Benz. According to Mexican news outlet Expansión, the factory is operating at only around 30% capacity as of June last year, and it was already seeing staff cuts. Mercedes also still produces vehicles there, specifically the GLB-Class SUV.

We’ve also reached out to Infiniti for official comment on the situation with the two SUVs. We’ll update as soon as we hear back. Presumably, the halt on orders won’t have a major effect on availability, at least not right away. Any examples already on dealer lots should be purchasable and likely won’t have a change in price as they’ve already made it across the border.

A Major Part Of The Lineup

The QX50 and QX55 are Infiniti’s entry-level SUVs, and last year, the more conventional QX50 was the brand’s second-best seller. It narrowly edged out the full-size QX80 at 10,722 units and slightly more than 20% of the brand’s total sales. While sales have been down in the latest quarter, it still managed to be the brand’s third-best seller. The two models don’t necessarily have long to live, as the brand is reportedly dropping them in favor of slightly larger and more luxurious replacements.

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The QX50 and QX55 are ending production in December as the brand hopes to focus on more profitable (and hopefully more interesting) cars.

With that said, they aren’t scheduled to be dropped just yet. Infiniti has said it plans to keep building the SUVs through December of this year. So Infiniti will need to figure out what to do in the next few months for the models, whether that means ending the models early in the US, or raising prices. The latter would be difficult since these Infinitis are at the lower end of the segment in terms of price, so buyers are more sensitive to changes, making an early discontinuation a distinct possibility. Whether the tariffs stay in effect for just a month or two, or if they’re long-term, will almost certainly play a role in Infiniti’s decisions, too.

Source: Reuters, Expansión