INFINITI & BEYOND - AAH 714

EV Channels Review

This episode of Autoline After Hours features Craig Keeys, Group VP of Infiniti Americas, discussing the brand's evolution and the new 2025 QX80. Keeys highlights Infiniti's journey, emphasizing a career progression built on broad experience rather than narrow specialization. He addresses brand recognition challenges, stating that while a loyal following exists, education and conquesting efforts are crucial, with the "Infinitely You" campaign and the QX80 leading the charge. The QX80 is praised for its striking design, thoughtful hospitality features, and significantly improved performance, with Keeys asserting it's now a formidable competitor. The discussion also touches on the increasing importance of screens in vehicles and Infiniti's access to technology through the broader Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance. Keeys reaffirms Infiniti's commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, viewing it as good business. He acknowledges a current soft market, influenced by elections and past high costs, but anticipates a strong Q4 driven by the QX80. The conversation concludes with a brief look at the Q50 sedan and the potential for future sedans, alongside a discussion on EVs and natural disasters, GM's battery strategy, and Tesla's robotaxi ambitions.