Infiniti to Discontinue QX50 and QX55 Compact Crossovers, Focusing on New Lineup
Infiniti has announced that it will be discontinuing its QX50 and QX55 compact crossovers by the end of the year, temporarily reducing its lineup until a new crossover arrives next year. This decision was shared with dealers at the recent National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) show in New Orleans, as reported by Automotive News.
The production of the QX50 and QX55 will come to an end in December, with the 2025 model year being their last. However, Infiniti plans to build enough vehicles to last through the summer of 2026. The Nissan luxury brand explained that the aging QX50 and QX55 no longer align with its strategy of focusing on more upscale vehicles in different market segments.
Ponz Pandikuthira, Nissan Americas product planning boss, stated that the current QX50 and QX55 models are starting to look dated compared to other vehicles in the Infiniti lineup, such as the QX60 and QX80. This shift in focus towards more upscale offerings has led Infiniti to make the tough decision to discontinue the QX50 and QX55, rather than investing in redesigning or updating them.
The QX50 was introduced for the 2019 model year and is now the oldest vehicle in Infiniti’s lineup, while the QX55, a coupe-like variant of the QX50, arrived in 2022. Despite their unique features, these models have not performed as well in sales as Infiniti had hoped.
To fill the gap left by the discontinuation of the QX50 and QX55, Infiniti plans to direct customers towards the larger three-row midsize QX60 and the upcoming QX65, a two-row crossover set to debut in 2026. The QX65 is expected to offer a sleeker design and build upon the success of the QX55 formula.
In the meantime, Infiniti will only have the QX60 and the full-size QX80 in its lineup, along with remaining stock of the QX50 and QX55. This reduction in the lineup is a result of years of underinvestment that have seen Infiniti drop more models than it has redesigned.
Despite these changes, Infiniti remains confident in its future lineup and is focused on delivering new and innovative vehicles to meet the evolving needs of customers. The decision to discontinue the QX50 and QX55 is part of a broader strategy to streamline and enhance the Infiniti brand, ensuring that it remains competitive in the luxury crossover market.
