Nissan Motor Co. has introduced the Infiniti EX35 luxury sport utility vehicle in China to lure customers in the world's fastest growing auto market.
The EX35, which went on sale in China on Friday, is priced from 627,000 yuan (¥9.58 million).
The luxury SUV, imported from Japan, is competing with BMW's X3, which is priced from about 578,000 yuan (¥8.83 million).
Nissan, BMW and other luxury carmakers are adding new models in China amid growing competition as the slowing global economy makes luxury car buyers more selective and damps overall vehicle demand.
While China's vehicle imports rose 53 percent in the first half from a year ago, the country may fall short of its earlier full-year forecast of 10 million vehicles, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
China boosted the consumption tax on cars with engines of between 3 liters and 4 liters by 10 percentage points starting from this month in an effort to curb energy usage and spark demand for less polluting and more efficient small vehicles.
China's vehicle sales dropped for the first time in three years in August, according to the manufacturing association.
