Glyn Hopkin has taken on the Infiniti franchise and will launch a new showroom in St Albans, Hertfordshire in December this year.

Glyn Hopkin is the second non-Middle East funded group to take on Nissan’s premium brand in the UK alongside  Humberside Motor Group who took on the franchise last year with its Hull site. Rymco UK and Mana Premiere were the first groups to launch with Infiniti, with funding from the Lebanon and Qatar respectivley, to set up sites in the UK.

Infiniti is looking to build on its premium sales and awareness from a small base since 2009. Infiniti wants to compete with German premium brands and the Glyn Hopkin site takes Infiniti to eight sites in the UK.

An Infiniti spokesman told AM the location of St Albans for the South East and London area, mixed with Glyn Hopkin's history with parent company Nissan made them a natural partner to work with.

Fraser Cohen, Glyn Hopkin managing director, said: “The Infiniti brand is starting to grow in the UK and with many exciting new products coming through over the next few years it’s a great time for us to become an Infiniti partner.

“These are also exciting times for the Glyn Hopkin group as we continue to grow beyond expectation towards 30 dealerships representing 10 different brands. Having the premium marque of Infiniti within our portfolio helps us to offer our customers a wider choice than ever before.”

The Glyn Hopkin Infiniti site will have its own showroom built on to the group's existing development which houses Fiat, Chrysler, Jeep and Alfa Romeo. Redevelopment work will commence soon.

Steve Oliver, Infiniti regional director, said: “This new agreement represents the first of several new Infiniti centres that will be opening up over the next few years.

“To get a centre operating in this important area so close to London will help generate awareness of the brand and build on our ever growing customer base.”

Infiniti now has representation in Reading, London, St Albans, Birmingham, Stockport, Hull, Leeds, Manchester and Glasgow. The brand is looking to launch sites in Belfast, Newcastle, Nottingham, Norwich, Cambridge, Bristol and Southampton.

Infiniti registered 530 units in the UK in 2012 according to SMMT data. The brand will expand its range with the new Q50 in time for the September plate-change this year and a new compact premium car which will be built at Nissan's Sunderland plant from 2015.