In 1989 Nissan launched Infiniti, its luxury division, with a unique advertising campaign that featured Zen-influenced commercials focusing on nature to build brand awareness, but did not actually include cars. Not an auspicious start. Its initial offerings were the luxurious Q45 and M30. Sales grew steadily throughout the ’90s, thanks in part to a revamped lineup that featured sporty and stylish rear-wheel-drive vehicles. Even so, Infiniti still wasn’t as popular with American consumers as its competitors, Lexus and Acura. Today Infiniti still falls behind Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz in terms of brand recognition and popularity. However, award-winning customer satisfaction has won the company praise from the automotive press and consumers.
