Infiniti has recently confirmed plans to build a new compact premium model at the company's factory in Sunderland, United Kingdom.
Accordingly, the Japanese carmaker will invest more than $406 million in order to accommodate the extra production. The plant will have the capacity to produce 60,000 units per year and is expected to create a further 1,000 jobs.
"This milestone, our first premium product to be manufactured at Sunderland, reconfirms our commitment to UK manufacturing and the ongoing success of the plant, which is moving up the value chain," said Colin Dodge, Nissan's Executive Vice President and Chief Performance Officer. "Just as important, the new Infiniti, which will be exported around the world, is being developed with help from our London design centre and our European Technical Centre at Cranfield."
The new compact car, which will be based on Mercedes-Benz's FWD platform, is expected to go into production in 2015. It will be offered with 1.6- and 2.0-liter turbo petrol engines, as well as 1.8- and 2.2-liter diesels. All-wheel drive will probably be optional.
