Is INFINITI A Nissan or Mercedes?
Infiniti is Nissan's luxury vehicle division, not Mercedes-Benz.
Infiniti was created by Nissan to compete in the premium market and operates as the upscale arm of the Japanese automaker. While Nissan has engaged in strategic collaborations with Daimler AG (the parent company of Mercedes-Benz) as part of broader alliances, Infiniti remains a Nissan-owned brand and is marketed as a separate luxury marque from Mercedes-Benz.
Infiniti's place in the corporate family
Infiniti is owned by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and uses Nissan engineering and platforms in many of its models, aligning Infiniti with Nissan's global product strategy rather than with Mercedes-Benz.
Key facts about Infiniti's relationship with Nissan and Mercedes:
- Infiniti is Nissan's luxury division; it is owned by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
- Mercedes-Benz is a separate automaker under Daimler AG, not the owner of Infiniti.
- There have been broader alliance activities between Renault-Nissan and Daimler that involve technology sharing, but Infiniti is not a Mercedes product line.
In summary, Infiniti is the premium brand of Nissan, and while Nissan and Mercedes-Benz have collaborated on certain initiatives at the corporate level, Infiniti remains a Nissan brand marketed as the luxury arm of the Japanese automaker.
Historical ties between Nissan and Mercedes-Benz
From the late 1990s onward, Nissan and Daimler AG pursued various joint projects within the broader Renault-Nissan-Daimler alliance, including technology sharing and collaboration on some platforms. These partnerships are separate from Infiniti's branding and product lineup, which remains under Nissan's control as its luxury marque.
- Joint development on engines, platforms, and technologies within alliance projects.
- No ownership transfer of Infiniti to Mercedes-Benz; Infiniti continues under Nissan.
These collaboration efforts demonstrate how automakers can share technology while maintaining distinct brands with separate ownership. Infiniti's core identity remains tied to Nissan rather than Mercedes-Benz.
Summary
Infiniti is Nissan’s luxury division, not a Mercedes product. While Nissan and Daimler have engaged in alliance-level collaborations, Infiniti remains a Nissan brand marketed as the premium arm of the Japanese automaker. The bottom line: Infiniti = Nissan luxury, not Mercedes.
