Changan CS55, Kia Seltos take top SUV honours at 2025 NAJA Auto Awards

Changan CS55 and Kia Seltos have clinched top honours at the 2025 Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) International Auto Awards, winning Midsize SUV of the Year and Compact SUV of the Year, respectively.

The awards were announced at a recent well-attended ceremony held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, which brought together key stakeholders across Nigeria’s automotive value chain to celebrate excellence, resilience and innovation in the industry.

Changan CS55’s latest recognition comes after its impressive performance at last year’s 17th edition of the awards, where it was crowned Nigeria’s New Car of the Year.

At the 2025 ceremony, the compact crossover SUV edged out strong contenders such as the Kia Sonet and Chery Tiggo to secure the coveted Midsize SUV title.

Changan vehicles are marketed and assembled in Nigeria by Mikano Motors, reinforcing the growing impact of local assembly in the country’s automotive sector.

In the Compact SUV category, the Kia Seltos emerged winner, beating notable competitors such as the Toyota Prado, Changan CS55 and Chery Tiggo.

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Industry analysts have described the Seltos as a compelling blend of practicality and style, praising its bold design, versatility and appeal to modern drivers.

Other corporate winners at the event are the Mikano Group, which was named Auto Company of the Year; Iron Products Industries (IPI) Limited, honoured as Truck Assembler/Body Builder of the Year; Lanre Shittu Motors (JAC), awarded Truck Plant of the Year; and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM), which won Passenger Car Assembly Plant of the Year.

These recognitions highlighted the depth and growing strength of indigenous participation in Nigeria’s automotive industry.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Otunba Joseph Osanipin, commended NAJA for sustaining a credible platform promoting excellence and accountability within the sector.

In his welcome address, NAJA Chairman Mr Theodore Opara described the awards as a benchmark for performance in Nigeria’s evolving automotive ecosystem, noting that the industry continues to adapt amid policy reforms, technological advancements and changing consumer expectations.

The 2025 NAJA International Auto Awards once again underscored the critical role of leading brands in strengthening Nigeria’s transportation and industrial backbone, while celebrating outstanding achievements across the nation’s automotive landscape.

Changan CS55, Kia Seltos take top SUV honours at 2025 NAJA Auto Awards

ANAMMCO, Stallion, RT Briscoe Honoured as Nigeria’s Most Resilient Auto Brands

ANAMMCO Motors and Parts Ltd, Stallion Motors and R T Briscoe have been named Most Resilient Auto Brands of the Year at the 18th Nigeria Auto Journalists’ Association (NAJA) International Auto Awards, held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The recognition was announced at the well-attended ceremony that celebrated excellence, innovation and long-term impact across Nigeria’s automotive value chain.

NAJA said the three companies stood out for their consistency, adaptability and sustained contributions to the growth of the auto industry.

According to the association, the Resilient Auto Company of the Year category honours firms that have demonstrated institutional strength, commitment to local content development and unwavering support for Nigeria’s automotive ecosystem, even amid economic headwinds, policy shifts and changing market dynamics.

The endorsement of ANAMMCO, Stallion Motors and R T Briscoe underscores their ability to remain operationally relevant while contributing to local vehicle assembly, skills development and industrial capacity building over several decades.

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ANAMMCO Motors and Parts Limited is a leading vehicle manufacturing company with a broad portfolio spanning commercial vehicle production, third-party assembly, refurbishment, vehicle and spare parts sales, body building, workshop services, as well as training and consultancy.

Stallion Motors Limited, the automotive arm of the Stallion Group, is a major force in Nigeria’s auto sector, combining vehicle retail, after-sales support, parts distribution and local assembly. The company is the authorised distributor for several global brands, including Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Changan, Ashok Leyland, Morris Garages (MG) and Bajaj three-wheelers.

In addition to the resilience award, Stallion’s Sonu Singh was named Marketing/Media Manager of the Year at the ceremony.

R T Briscoe, one of Nigeria’s oldest auto companies, was recognised for pioneering structured vehicle sales, professional servicing and spare-parts support in the country.

At a time when vehicle imports were largely informal, the company introduced standardised dealerships, manufacturer-backed warranties and some of the best-equipped auto workshops in Nigeria.

In his welcome address, NAJA Chairman, Mr. Theodore Opara, described the awards as a benchmark for industry performance, noting that resilience has become a defining attribute in the face of global supply chain disruptions, energy transition pressures and ongoing policy reforms.

He added that award recipients emerged through a transparent and rigorous assessment process anchored on professionalism, industry relevance and measurable impact, stressing that despite prevailing economic challenges, Nigeria’s auto industry continues to demonstrate resilience, creativity and strategic adaptation.

ANAMMCO, Stallion, RT Briscoe Honoured as Nigeria’s Most Resilient Auto Brands

Dangote Sinotruk, Innoson, IPI Shine at 18th NAJA Auto Awards

Dangote Sinotruk, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) and Iron Products Industries (IPI) Ltd emerged as standout winners at the 18th Nigeria Auto Journalists’ Association (NAJA) International Auto Awards, held on Tuesday at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Dangote Sinotruk clinched the Heavy-Duty Truck Brand of the Year award, underscoring its dominance in Nigeria’s commercial vehicle market. The honour was presented by the Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Commander Kehinde Hamzat, to the Sales Manager of Dangote Sinotruk West Africa Limited (DSWAL), Stella Ekemezie, alongside other company officials.

The award reflects the brand’s growing presence across logistics, construction, mining and industrial sectors, supported by robust vehicle performance, cost efficiency and reliable aftersales service tailored to local conditions.

Operating a Lagos-based assembly plant with an annual installed capacity of about 10,000 units on a Completely Knocked Down (CKD) basis, Dangote Sinotruk produces heavy-duty, medium and light trucks, as well as semi-trailers, for the Nigerian and ECOWAS markets, contributing to local content development and job creation.

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In the passenger vehicle segment, IVM was named Passenger Car Assembly Plant of the Year, reaffirming its status as Nigeria’s foremost indigenous automobile manufacturer. The award was received by the company’s General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Obum Osigwe, who thanked NAJA for the recognition.

IPI also recorded a strong showing, winning Truck Assembler/Body Builder of the Year. The award was accepted by its General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Musa Umar, in recognition of the company’s expanding role in truck assembly, vehicle body building and localisation of manufacturing. IPI was recently awarded the NIS ISO 9001:2015 certification by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for meeting high-quality standards.

With over five decades of operations, IPI specialises in light and heavy-duty truck bodies, trailers, refrigerated box bodies, vehicle assembly and steel fabrication, and has executed landmark projects across aviation, oil and gas, and commercial infrastructure nationwide.

Other major winners at the ceremony included Jetour Dashing, named Nigeria’s 2025 Car of the Year, Mikano as Auto Company of the Year, and Lanre Shittu Motors (JAC) as Truck Plant of the Year, highlighting the growing competitiveness of Nigeria’s automotive industry.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Otunba Joseph Osanipin, lauded industry players for deepening local assembly, technology transfer and employment generation, noting that the awards aligned with ongoing efforts to reposition the sector as a key driver of industrial growth.

NAJA Chairman, Mr. Theodore Opara, described the awards as a credible platform for celebrating companies making measurable contributions to Nigeria’s evolving automotive ecosystem, particularly in local manufacturing and value addition.

Dangote Sinotruk, Innoson, IPI Shine at 18th NAJA Auto Awards