Infiniti retail network expands in Europe with a strong Middle Eastern ownership interest in the UK

For both its UK Partners, Infiniti has turned to companies already experienced in the brand and its values, as well as in the luxury automotive market.

The first Partner already announced by Infiniti, namely Rymco UK, is the brand's importer in the Lebanon.

Its second UK Partner is to be Mana Premiere Automobiles UK, a wholly owned subsidiary of Al Mana International Holding, which descends from a business group with a wealth of experience in the motor retail business in the state of Qatar representing Infiniti, Nissan and Renault.

Mana Premiere Automobiles UK will operate sites across the UK and have already identified addresses in South London, Glasgow, Birmingham, Leeds and Stockport. A further five Infiniti locations will be announced in due course. When added to the three Centres planned to be opened under Rymco UK, including Infiniti Centre Reading, this takes Infiniti's final network to at least 13 Centres.

Coverage will extend to almost the entire country as all Centres will offer the customer the Infiniti VIP Service which provides collection and delivery of their vehicle for annual maintenance up to 150 miles from the Infiniti Centre (beyond this is also available at customer contribution). Birmingham and Glasgow should be the next Centres to be completed after Reading, with their doors scheduled to open around the middle of 2010.

As with the rest of Europe, the Infiniti Centres that will be operated in the UK by Mana Premiere Automobiles UK follow the IREDI concept (Infiniti Retail Environment Design Initiative) which aims to create a welcoming and hospitable environment for buying and servicing Infiniti's performance cars. The architecture is energetic and modern, with an accent on natural materials and warm furnishings.

The UK's first - and Europe's 22nd - Infiniti Centre opened its elegant glass doors for the first time on 12 September 2009. Europe's newest luxury automotive brand has selected Reading, hi-tech hub and commercial capital of the Thames Valley west of London, as the town where Infiniti's introduction to the UK, 20 years in the making, at last gets under way.

The Infiniti partner in Reading, Rymco UK, was set up by a partnership formed for this purpose by Rymco SAL and Mr Nasser Al-Kharafi, president of the Al-Kharafi Group. Rymco SAL - Rasamny Younis Motor Company, a joint stock company listed on the Lebanese stock exchange - has been a leading automotive retailer in Lebanon since 1957.

In the GCC, the next scheduled Infiniti Centres is due to open in Oman. Another centre will also be opened in Azerbaijan by 2010.