Dongfeng Nissan may build luxury Maxima in '09

Following the launch of its Nissan X-Trail SUV earlier this month, Dongfeng Nissan will expand its lineup further. The joint venture is likely to start making Nissan's luxury flagship Maxima sedan in 2009 to rival the Toyota Crown and Audi A4 in the Chinese market, said xinhuanet.

An insider from Dongfeng Nissan said that next year the company will introduce a high-end Nissan model more luxury than the Nissan Teana being made and sold by the joint venture, and this new luxury Nissan model for local production in China is most likely to be the Nissan Maxima. Dongfeng Nissan will make this Nissan sedan as its heavyweight model for the company to grow in the most profitable luxury car market in China.

As Nissan's luxury model positioned between Nissan Teana and Infiniti G35, the Maxima sedan is derived from the Nissan D-platform in North America and looks more elegant and sophisticated than other cars of its kind. In the North American market, the 2009 3.5L Maxima sells for about US$29,300 (200,000 yuan), equal to the price of Audi A4 but lower-priced than BMW 3Series and Lexus ES350.

The luxury Nissan Maxima sedan to be made in China by Dongfeng Nissan in 2009 is expected to be priced between 300,000 yuan and 400,000 yuan, the insider said.

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