"I am a dedicated runner and Hong Kong has a lot of beautiful trails. My colleagues in Hong Kong have given me books to introduce me to the trails."

Infiniti, the Hong Kong-based premium car division of Japan's Nissan Motor, has been so focused on the Hong Kong and mainland markets that it shifted its headquarters from Japan's Yokohama to Hong Kong in 2012.

"After we moved the headquarters, we expanded our office here last year and now we have opened a new showroom. All these demonstrate our commitment in the region, which is very important to us," he said.

Krueger believes Hong Kong is the ideal headquarters for a global car company as it has a talent pool drawn from different countries and sectors such as finance, accountancy, marketing and trading, which makes recruitment easy.

It is also easy to access the mainland and other parts of Asia, which is now the fastest-growing region for Infiniti as rising wealth spurs strong car sales.

Apart from being a status symbol, high-end cars have caught on in the mainland because of pollution, which has triggered policies to limit the number of cars. Analysts say this is why mainlanders now tend to buy premium brands rather than own several low- or mid-range cars in the family.

"Even if China is talking about a slower economic growth, it's still 7 per cent. Many countries would be happy if they had such growth," Krueger said.

The mainland is Infiniti's second largest market after the US.

"China is a very important market for us. We would like to see growth in both quality and quantity. Our joint venture in China will produce more new car models in the coming years to meet increasing demand from our customers. We would also like to expand our dealers from 85 now to more than 100."

The company entered the mainland market through a joint venture with Dongfeng Motor in 2007. Sales have been growing quickly, prompting the company to start producing on the mainland last year with two models.

Infiniti last year sold more than 30,000 vehicles on the mainland, up 75.6 per cent from 2013, compared with its global sales growth of 13.5 per cent to 186,200 vehicles.

The pick-up continued into the first quarter this year when Infiniti sold 7,900 vehicles on the mainland, up 28 per cent from the same period last year. That compared with a global sales growth of 12 per cent in the first quarter.

Compared with customers in the West, Krueger said, Chinese customers are relatively younger.

"Chinese customers like to have bigger legroom at the back of the car. They also like the cars to be installed with the latest technology to enhance their driving experience. They demand high-quality materials for the seat and inside the cars for the feel and touch."

Running a global firm, Krueger prefers to combine international and local talent. The company has hired international engineers and designers, and local talent for marketing, client services and other functions.

"It is important to have local talent as they understand the culture and what local customers want."

Born in Munich, Germany, Krueger received a degree in industrial design from the University of Applied Science in his hometown in 1992. Being a car lover, he joined the auto industry right after his graduation and became a designer at Mitsubishi Motors Europe in Germany and Japan.

He moved to Daimler Group in 1994 and joined BMW in 1998. After serving in various departments and regions at BMW, he was named senior vice-president. In January, he assumed the role of president of Infiniti Motor Company and senior vice-president of Nissan Motor, Infiniti's parent company.

The key to success in the car industry, he said, is a forward-looking mindset.

"We have to think about the future. Our staff needs to think and study new products, new technology and new designs for our customers," adding that connectivity, technology and design are the three major elements for a perfect car.

The green concept, he believes, is also a must for the future generation of cars. "Many customers have taken environmental protection to heart. Our hybrid models address environmental concerns of the buyers."

Infiniti was launched in 1989 by Nissan to provide a range of premium vehicles. Apart from the mainland, it has manufacturing facilities in Japan and the US, and is to expand production to Britain and Mexico soon.

Krueger said the expansion of the company's production lines is aimed at producing popular brands locally.

"We have expanded our footprint in terms of production. That's because it helps us make products that suit local customers' tastes. It also reduces the impact of currency exchange volatility."