A talented group of team members are working around the clock to bring the all-new 2025 INFINITI QX80 to life in Japan.
INFINITI's latest flagship is proudly assembled by a team of over 3,000 within a facility in the subtropical southwestern island of Kyushu (south of Japan's main Honshu Island). The plant has produced INFINITI's full-size SUV since 2010 (when it was initially badged INFINITI QX56).
Akira Kiyota, the general foreman of the plant has been working to assemble products in Kyushu for over 35 years. He can trace his passion for production back to his childhood, where he enjoyed building plastic model cars.
Kiyota commenced his journey in manufacturing at the age of 18, applying for a role with Nissan after sampling a friend's Hakosuka Skyline GT-R and being decidedly impressed by the design and performance.
A core member of INFINITI QX80 project team since the early prototype phase, Kiyota recalls his feeling on the day the first all-new QX80 made its way along the production line saying, "It's a moment of immense pride to see this new QX80 rolling out of the plant, having worked on this nameplate for close to 15 years".
"When the engine on the first car started and it drove off the line, it was a very rewarding moment, knowing so many teams have worked tirelessly to bring this new INFINITI flagship to life."
Speaking to the mindset within the Kyushu plant, where 'process stations' work in seamless harmony to assemble the all-new INFINITI QX80, Kiyota said "We always imagine the next station is the customer, so passing on the highest quality vehicle is our upmost priority."
Kiyota's passion for production, parallels the inspiration that drew fellow teammate, Yukio Oshima to the plant. Oshima, who works within the final assembly inspection area, has been a team member at the plant for 9 years. He recalls how watching his father, a mechanic, work on cars in a local mechanical repair business spurred his interest in all things automotive. Like Kiyota, it was cars of a smaller scale, in his case toy minicars, along with a tour of the Nissan plant, that helped galvanize Oshima's desire to be part of the production and assembly team.
"It's been a privilege to be involved with the all-new INFINITI QX80 program from the beginning. I've received invaluable experience and guidance from senior teammates as we progressed from prototype through to final production," said Oshima. "It's an honor to play a role in bringing INFINITI's new dawn to life and I'm really excited for customer deliveries, knowing we've worked hard to assemble it to the highest levels"
The all-new 2025 INFINITI QX80 brings a dominant, sophisticated design; first-class hospitality for all three rows of seating; seamless and intuitive technology; and a commanding, rewarding driving experience.
It arrives at retailers across the U.S. and Canada from this month with other regions to follow later this year.