Nissan Motor, the Yokohoma-based global car manufacturer, has opened a branch in Hong Kong for its high-end products to tap the Asia-Pacific region's growing wealthy population.

Infiniti, its luxury brand, currently holds around 3 per cent of the luxury vehicle market in China and expects to see a wider market share when local production officially begins in 2014. In the fiscal year to March, Infiniti sold some 19,000 cars in the country.

The decision to open in Hong Kong comes as China's luxury sales remain high alongside the rising number of newly-rich consumers. According JD Power & Associates, luxury sales in the country went up 21 per cent in the first quarter from the previous year.

Majority of the Infiniti vehicles are made in Japan but Nissan intends to tap the increasing global wealthy numbers by opening local production houses in the US, Europe and China. The company is working to sell up to 500,000 vehicles worldwide by 2016, from 145,000 in 2011, and expand its branch network from 45 to 70. New offices will be launched this year in Australia, Chile, Mexico and South Africa.