Infiniti is one of the most popular premium automotive brands in the world. It’s not just the quality of their cars, but also the wealth of exclusivity that is associated with the brand. In fact, according to Brand Finance, the brand is worth $5.5 billion. But who owns Infiniti? Its parent company isn’t listed on public stock exchanges. The brand is owned by the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi Alliance, or NEM. The parent company has its headquarters in Japan, but its operational headquarters is in Yokohama, Japan. The Japanese government also has a stake in the company as well as other stakeholding partners. Below, we take a detailed look at who owns Infiniti.
Who Owns Infiniti?
Infiniti is one of the most popular premium automotive brands in the world. It’s not just the quality of their cars, but also the wealth of exclusivity that is associated with the brand. In fact, according to Brand Finance, the brand is worth $5.5 billion. But who owns Infiniti? Its parent company isn’t listed on public stock exchanges. The brand is owned by the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi Alliance, or NEM. The parent company has its headquarters in Japan, but its operational headquarters is in Yokohama, Japan. The Japanese government also has a stake in the company as well as other stakeholding partners.
Nissan owns 48% of Infiniti
Nissan has 48 percent ownership of Infiniti. Nissan has been a strategic partner with Infiniti since 2007, and the two companies have been working together on new technologies and design for future Infiniti vehicles. Nissan also holds a 5 percent stake in the Lotus Elise, which is marketed as a Nissan. So what’s the connection between Nissan and Infiniti? Both brands are owned by Renault, which is a subsidiary of Nissan. So the Renault-Nissan Alliance is the parent company of both brands.
Mitsubishi owns 24.4% of Infiniti
Mitsubishi holds a 24.4 percent stake in Infiniti. Nissan acquired 51 percent of Mitsubishi’s automotive business in 1952. Mitsubishi is still an important partner for Infiniti and Mitsubishi has been a sponsor of the Infiniti Red Bull Racing Formula One team since 2012.
The Government of Thailand owns 7.2% of Infiniti
The Government of Thailand owns 7.2 percent of Infiniti. The Thai government has invested in Infiniti since 1999. This partnership with Infiniti has helped the Thai government build its reputation as an international investor in cars and technology.
Other Ownership Partners
There are also other ownership partners in Infiniti, including a Japanese insurance company, an auto parts manufacturer, and an electronics company.
What Does the Future Hold for Infiniti?
Mitsubishi is on track to sell off its stake in Infiniti. This is good news for the brand, as Mitsubishi will become a sponsor of the Red Bull racing team in 2016. Infiniti is also working on autonomous cars, with CEO Johan de Nysschen saying the company is “at the very beginning of this journey.”
Bottom line
From a financial standpoint, the ownership structure of Infiniti is pretty clear: Nissan owns 48 percent of the brand, Mitsubishi 24.4 percent, the Japanese government 7.2 percent, and other stakeholding partners own the remaining 14.6 percent. The majority stakeholder in Infiniti is Nissan, which holds the majority stake in NEM, the parent company of the brand. Nissan is also the majority shareholder of Renault, the parent company of both brands. The future of this premium brand is looking up. With the sale of Mitsubishi’s stake in the brand, Infiniti will have the opportunity to expand its technology and design.