JIM-ISUZU, JéGO EV, Nord A9, New Era Win NAJA ‘New Entrants of the Year’

JIM-ISUZU Pick-Up, JéGO EV, Nord A9 and New Era Automobiles have been named New Entrants of the Year at the 2025 Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) International Auto Awards, underscoring the growing depth and competitiveness of Nigeria’s automotive market.

The awards were presented on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, during the 18th edition of the annual industry event.

JIM-ISUZU pickup emerged as a winner in the category, with its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Anselm Ilekuba, receiving the award on behalf of Cedric Autos Limited. Ilekuba, who also serves as National Coordinator of the Automotive Local Content Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (ALCMAN), thanked NAJA for the recognition, saying it would spur the company to deepen its commitment to quality and local industry growth.

The recognition of JéGO EV, Nord A9 and New Era Automobiles also reflects their successful entry into the Nigerian market, rising consumer acceptance and the promise they hold for the sector, particularly in the areas of innovation and alternative mobility solutions.

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Other major winners on the night included Jetour Dashing, which clinched Nigeria’s 2025 Car of the Year, defeating strong contenders such as Changan CS55 and Chery Tiggo.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class won Luxury Car of the Year, Range Rover Autobiography (Coscharis Motors) took Luxury SUV of the Year, while Toyota Hiace emerged Minibus of the Year.

On the corporate front, Mikano was named Auto Company of the Year, Toyota Nigeria’s Isolo facility won Workshop of the Year, and Dangote Sinotruk emerged Heavy-Duty Truck Brand of the Year.

Iron Products Industries (IPI) Limited clinched Truck Assembler/Body Builder of the Year, while Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) was recognised as Passenger Car Assembly Plant of the Year.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Joseph Osanipin, commended NAJA for sustaining a credible platform that promotes professionalism, innovation and excellence in the automotive industry.

NAJA Chairman, Mr Theodore Opara, said the awards have remained one of the sector’s most respected benchmarks, noting that the initiative continues to evolve in line with rapid changes in vehicle technology, alternative energy solutions and consumer expectations.

The 2025 NAJA International Auto Awards once again reinforced its role as a key barometer for automotive excellence in Nigeria, with the emergence of JIM-ISUZU and other new brands signalling a vibrant and increasingly competitive market.

JIM-ISUZU, JéGO EV, Nord A9, New Era Win NAJA ‘New Entrants of the Year’

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