Once More, Infiniti Electric Car Is Killed Off (Or Postponed?)

The electric-car headlines at last week's Detroit Auto Show clearly belonged to the Chevrolet Bolt concept, a subcompact 200-mile electric car.

But another news item is just now coming to light: A representative for Nissan's luxury brand, Infiniti, says the carmaker has shelved plans to offer a battery-electric model.

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According to USA Today yesterday, Infiniti's vice president for the Americas, Michael Bartsch, called the move "pragmatic."

Ending or postponing development on an electric luxury sedan would allow Infiniti to focus on segments with far greater volume.

The report suggests that one of those segments is luxury coupes, where the brand's Detroit unveiling, the Q60 Concept, would fit. But another, far higher-volume segment is compact luxury sedans.

Infiniti currently has no U.S. offering to rival the very successful new Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA four-doors, and an entry in that segment would likely sell in far higher volumes than a battery-electric luxury sedan.

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The first hint of a forthcoming all-electric car from Nissan's luxury brand came in the form of a concept car unveiled at the 2012 New York Auto Show.

The Infiniti LE Concept was a curvaceous compact four-door sedan using the running gear of the more prosaic Leaf hatchback.