Chinese brands have taken over truck market — Taiwo Shittu, ED, Lanre Shittu Motors – Newstrends
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Chinese brands have taken over truck market — Taiwo Shittu, ED, Lanre Shittu Motors

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Executive Director of Lanre Shittu Motors, Mr Taiwo Shittu, speaks on high cost of vehicles, used vehicle imports and quality of Chinese brands, among other issues relating to the auto industry in this interview with some journalists in Lagos including NewsTrends

 

How has it been running an auto assembly plant in Nigeria?

We started our auto assembly plant in October 2018. So far, it has been a good experience for us. It has been smooth running the plant. We have two plants now; one for the truck, the other is the car assembly section.

The truck plant just won the Best Auto Plant of the Year Award in Nigeria at the Nigeria Auto Journalists Awards. I can tell you that it was based on merit. No one in the auto industry can fault it. We all know who is doing what. Our turnaround in terms of operation is high. The assembly is always busy with activities with a lot of local content. We make sure we patronise local steel industry. Most of the hard body is being done here by young Nigerians; you won’t believe the capability of these young Nigerians. They are young Nigerian engineers who have passion for what they do.

The plant is doing well.  Right now, we are looking towards its expansion. We just got a grant from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, at a single digit interest rate to expand our plant. That is where we are now.

Is the car plant in the same location with the truck plant?

Yes. They are both at the Amuwo, Lagos.

 

How much of local content do you incorporate into assembling of vehicles now?

Right now, we source our steel from the local market. For instance, the back body/trailer body, the tipping bucket, the diesel tanks are local content; they are mainly fabricated there. We make sure we patronise indigenous companies for these materials. The same goes for our lubricants and grease. You will be surprised what some of these young Nigerians are capable of doing. Nigerians have the skills. They just need the support of the government; this is what will make the industry to develop.

The current generation of leaders must invest and make sacrifice for the development of the next generation just like the Chinese did. In those days, many people looked down on the Chinese and derided them for looking haggard and wretched. What they did not know was that they were making sacrifice for the current generation. Today, the China’s story has changed. Nigeria also needs to do the same.

Why are the locally-made/assembled vehicles still expensive and beyond the reach of the common man?

The price is still tied to imports in some way. The effect of the COVID has taken the freight rate of imported containers from about $2,000 to $16,000 and above. And that has had a significant effect on pricing of products in Nigeria. This is because most of the things we use (vehicle components) are imported from China.

And that is why I fault the media team of this government. It has failed to enlighten the public on why things are generally expensive in Nigeria.

Freight rate accounts largely for why things are expensive right now. Freight rate from China has gone up astronomically after COVID; it had never happened before. Our company is 40 years now; this is the first time freight rate will cost so much. Bringing in a container of 40 feet from China used to be around $2,000 to $3,000. It is now over $16,000.

This is what the media team of the government needs to let the people know.  The current high cost of things is caused by external factor that the government has no control over. The world is facing it. It is not only in Nigeria.

The dollar or exchange rate has its own issue, but it is minimal compared to this external factor of high freight rate.

Is there anything the business community or government can do about this problem?

It is not a deliberate action. It was precipitated by COVID-19. What happened was that at the peak of the COVID infection, many people were falling sick and some dying; a lot of containers were abandoned midway on the high sea. Now, many of the containers are not back at their bases, making them to have shortage of containers. And when the demand is high, the supply is low, the result is high price.

The solution is to work on returning the containers to their home countries and ease the shortage.

Are the products being made here of the same quality with those produced abroad?

They are of the same quality. Everything is regulated by the parent company. But nobody gets to the top overnight. I will take you back to China; they did not get to where they are now overnight. Nigeria was better than China in the ‘70s. Today, China has become a reference point because their former leaders made sacrifice for the present generation. Our own leaders too must be ready to make such sacrifice. It will be tough, but the result will be sweet victory. Industrialisation is the key to economic success of any country.

Are Nigerians not making enough sacrifice already?

This has to be consistent and it should cut across all strata of the society, the followers and the leaders. There is so much greed in the system. It’s in Nigeria you see people at a buffet packing food without any thought about those waiting in a queue yet to eat.

What has been the response of people to the JAC trucks being assembled in your factory? How many have you sold?

The response has been very encouraging. We’ve sold thousands. When we signed the dealership of the truck in 2014, it was rated number 9.

But today, we are the third highest selling heavy trucks in Nigeria. But when it comes to quality, people know it is JAC truck.

Are you saying Chinese trucks are leading the truck market in Nigeria?

Yes, they have taken over the market; it’s not only in Nigeria; it is everywhere.

Is this a function of low price?

Not just low pricing but it is also in terms of quality. The truth is that the Chinese brands have come to stay. In the area of truck, you either align with them or you get out of the business. They are getting better every day and these trucks are working (well). We have a lot of key players using the trucks. How many of these European trucks can you see on the road?

What is your assessment of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) as an agency of government expected to facilitate your business?

I must say the agency has been very amazing, especially under the leadership of Jelani Aliyu as its director general. He is very sound; he has played in the big boys’ league in the US. I’m not surprised that he is performing well. We are getting a lot of support from him because he believes in this industry. I must say that with someone like him, we’re going to get there.

Government must give him more listening ear. We are lucky to have him. He is an asset to Nigeria. He has tried it in America and it worked; it will work in Nigeria too.

What has been the contribution of Lanre Shittu Motors to Nigeria after 40 years of the company’s establishment?

The company has contributed a lot to the Nigerian economy, especially when it comes to manpower, training and empowerment of young Nigerians. We have an empowerment scheme for school leavers, who have passion for automotive development.

They are trained for a period of four years and get paid even while on training. After the training, we send them to our customers across the country to service them. We ask them to get them employed, accommodated and be paid well. In some cases, they are given a car and placed on a good salary that we dictate.

We are getting good testimonies from those we sent to Kano, Bauchi, Ondo and Cross River states, among others. These are people that would have been bus conductors, touts or motor boys, now heading a facility of 300 to 500 trucks.

Those who own these trucks know that these guys taking care of the valuable vehicles are as important as their expensive trucks. Lanre Shittu Motors has done miraculously well to young Nigerians in the engineering sector, making them to actualise their dreams in life.

We have the graduate empowerment scheme too, with a different package. They are also trained for a period before we send them out to people who need their service. We have some people sending interested young graduates and school leavers to us for training.

For instance, Desmond Elliot, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, sent 10 people from his Surulere constituency to us for the scheme.

We just got a grant from the government. They have seen that what we are doing is extensive. Government did due diligence before giving out the loans. We are one of the best indigenous companies in the automobile industry.

We believe strongly in this auto policy that will make Nigeria a hub for auto producing vehicles in Africa. Government’s representatives have visited our factories a number of times and they have seen that we mean business. The plant is always busy. And in the auto industry, we are the only company that got the loan in the first set they just released.

What is your view about the crash in import duty of used vehicles by the government?

If we believe in Nigeria, we must do away with used vehicles. It’s part of the sacrifice that we need to make. We can start by making it look unattractive to reduce the volume being imported. We have to look for a good finance scheme to support the new vehicle purchase. It is not that Nigerians don’t like new vehicles; it is because finance is not there. And where there is a finance arrangement, the issue is the cost and how to pay back. If I’m buying a car on loan for my comfort, I may be sceptical about how to pay back without a reliable income. Government should therefore focus more on how to finance the commercial segment of new vehicles’ purchase. Since the vehicles are going to be used for business, it will be easy to pay back the loans. This will also generate more employment opportunities for the people. Giving a loan to anyone to buy a vehicle that will be used for business is like an asset that will bring back money. There is no way you will buy a new truck on loan for a business venture and you will not make back the money in one and a half years. And in the case of trucks, they will still be on the road for 15 years or more. Look at the farmers in the North producing tomatoes and others, most of these perishable food items get destroyed in the farm because they cannot afford the high cost of transporting these goods to the big markets in the cities like Lagos and Abuja. The cost of moving the items from Kano to Lagos can be as high as N1 million. How many of these peasant farmers can afford that? But if the government can have a finance scheme for new commercial vehicles, they would be able to buy the vehicles and promptly move the goods to Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Aba, Onitsha, Abuja and those places with high population. More people would be encouraged to return to the farm and do more.

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FRSC, sister agencies form JTF to arrest truck drivers conveying humans

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FRSC, sister agencies form JTF to arrest truck drivers conveying humans

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has inaugurated a Joint Task Force (JTF) with sister dedicated to arrest and prosecute trailer drivers conveying passengers along with goods.

This is contained in a statement by the spokesman for the FRSC, Jonas Agwu.

The move was to curb the menace of road traffic crashes associated with trailers.

According to the statement, the JTF is made up of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, state traffic management agencies and operatives of the Corps, along with representatives from various transport unions.

This came followed a tragic road traffic crash on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway last Monday night, which resulted in the loss of 10 lives.

The accident involving a DAF Trailer was attributed to excessive speed, overloading, and driver fatigue, highlighting the urgent need for stringent enforcement of road safety regulations.

Jonas said the inauguration was done on Saturday at the Kakau Tollgate in Kaduna State, marking the start of the phased deployment along critical expressways.

During the inauguration ceremony, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dauda Biu, underscored the pivotal role of the JTF in curbing the menace of road traffic crashes associated with trailers.

The corps marshal, represented by Assistant Corps Marshal, Federal Operations, Zubairu Mato, said, “In the last couple of months, the highways have witnessed incidences of road traffic crashes involving trailers loaded with goods, animals, and persons.”

Biu added the initiative was part of a broader effort to ensure the safety of road users and to enforce compliance with traffic laws, particularly those prohibiting the conveyance of passengers in vehicles designed for cargo.

Part of the statement read, “In order to reverse the ugly trend, the JTF were directed to embark on effective special patrol operations as well as conduct Mobile Court operations on the commissioned route. They are to also ensure immediate prosecution of apprehended offenders.

“The exercise will be carried out across major corridors nationwide. Consequently, owners of trailers are admonished to warn their drivers against this traffic violations as the Corps will not spare anyone caught in the act.”

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Toyota Nigeria presents nine schoolchildren for global dream car art contest + photos

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Toyota Nigeria presents nine schoolchildren for global dream car art contest

Toyota (Nigeria) Limited has honoured nine schoolchildren that emerged as national winners of the 2024 (17th) edition of the annual Toyota Dream Car Art contest.
According to the Managing Director of TNL, Mr Kunle Ade-Ojo, all nine drawings created by the nine winners have also been sent to Japan to compete with other winning drawings across the globe.


The latest national winners were celebrated and presented with top quality laptops, corporate gifts and certificates during a grand ceremony held on Saturday, 16th March, 2024, at TNL Corporate head office in Lekki, Lagos, to the admiration of their parents, Art teachers and well wishers that attended the colourful event.
Four of the winners are pupils of the Corona School, Lagos; two from Abuja-based Loyola Jesuit College; two from Avi-Cenna International School, and one from Vivian-Fowler Memorial College for Girls, Lagos.

All the categories this year were won by female contestants.


The competition organised for schoolchildren all over the world by Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Japan, in conjunction with its representatives in many countries, challenges them to draw their dream cars with an inspirational idea.
Last year, Nigeria’s Oluwademilade Odumuboni, a 9-year-old boy, then from Corona School Gbagada, Lagos, won the coveted prize, beating other contestants from over 90 countries.
His drawing, titled WASTE CONVERTER, with the concept of helping countries, especially African communities, in food production and ensuring clean environment, was adjudged the best globally in his age category.
All the current nine winners were invited to present their drawings and the idea behind it before receiving their prizes and certificates.
The three winners in the first category; 7 years and below, are all Corona School pupils. Wuraola Aderinsola Onaolapo (1st position), Myra Oyindamola Omokunga (2nd position), and Pemisire Zara Abayomi-John (3rd position).


For the 8-11 years category, the winners are Oluwalani Tamara Oshinubi (1st position), Sochikaima Nwizu (2nd position), and Vivian Ugooma Emeh (3rd position).
And in the third category for 12-15 years, Juditha Sree Reddyvari (1st position), Jiajia Miao (2nd position), and Ayopelumi Modupe Aboderin (3rd position) were unveiled.
TNL MD, Ade-Ojo, said the company chose to identify with the competition as part of its corporate social responsibilities by encouraging the children to develop their creativity and God-given talent.
He said, “We are doing this for the children. It is a means of developing their creativity and reminding them that anything is possible if they can dream. When they start young, it will also be part of them.
“Though it is costing us a lot of money, we are glad we are doing it so that the creativity in them does not diminish.”
Ade-Ojo also commended the teachers and parents for their support, adding, “Without their support, participating in this event would not have been possible.”
One of the parents, Mrs Opeyemi Aboderin, commended Toyota Nigeria for giving the children the opportunity to express their brilliant ideas through drawings.


She expressed gratitude to the company for the huge investment in the future of young children.
She also advised people to always encourage the youth to develop their skills and other talents.
The highpoint of the event was a special recognition given to the art teachers of the winning students.

All invitees were later treated to a grand reception.

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Updated: Weststar sets Nigeria’s auto landscape aglow, unveils new Mercedes-Benz E-Class

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Updated: Weststar sets Nigeria’s auto landscape aglow, unveils new Mercedes-Benz E-Class 

Weststar Associates Limited, the authorized distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria, has announced the arrival of the all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class, a development expected to set the nation’s auto landscape aglow again.

The iconic vehicle is said to set new standards in luxury and innovation, bringing the legend and renowned heritage of the Mercedes-Benz brand to car lovers and enthusiasts in Nigeria.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is described as the epitome of meticulous craftsmanship and technological prowess, with its harmonious blend of cutting-edge technology, exquisite design and unparalleled performance.

Just like its predecessor, the new E-Class promises to redefine the automotive landscape in Nigeria and provide an unrivaled driving experience.

According to the auto firm, the new E-Class marks the advent of a new generation, introducing more technology and luxury.

Specifically, it says the powertrains are complemented by a fresh exterior design, creating a captivating presence on the road.

It says inside the car are new technology features permeating the cabin, providing a digital atmosphere that is both immersive and intelligent.

The new E-Class takes its digital experience to the next level with the all-new Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) Superscreen.This powerful central onboard computer processes information with remarkable speed, delivering near-instantaneous responsiveness.

It integrates a range of apps and games, including TikTok & Angry Birds, making it a versatile tool for both entertainment and productivity.

The Superscreen also introduces the Routines function, an intelligent feature that curates your driving experience based on various conditions and functions, automatically adjusting settings such as heating, cooling, ambient lighting, seat massage, and more.

The MBUX Superscreen also debuts video conferencing in the all-new E-Class, this is enabled by a built-in camera and applications like Webex& Zoom.

The standard Burmester® 4D surround sound system, complemented by Active Ambient Lighting, transforms music into a visual and auditory masterpiece. Coordinated colours and tones are illuminated on the instrument panel, elevating the music-listening experience.

The interior is designed to prioritize comfort and quality. The spacious passenger accommodation is graced with premium materials, including leather upholstery and metal trim, resulting in a rich and upscale ambiance.

The new E-Class remains a four-door layout, emphasizing passenger experience and convenience. It boasts of an aerodynamic design that not only enhances its appearance but also reduces wind noise. With the assistance of nearly 500 microphones, engineers have meticulously measured and minimized wind noise, ensuring a serene cabin environment even at high driving speeds.

The exterior design comes with a host of features such as light alloy wheels, chrome highlights, and a Mercedes-Benz pattern radiator grille.

Additionally, the new E-Class boasts flush-fitted doors and metallic paintwork.

The new E-Class comes with upgraded standard equipment that includes KEYLESS-GO, and the AVANTGARDE equipment line for the interior and exterior.

The new E-Class offers two remarkable powertrains to cater to diverse driving preferences. The E 200 model boasts an advanced 4-cylinder petrol engine with mild hybrid and 48-volt on-board electrical system, delivering a combined power output of 204 horsepower with a torque of 320nm.

While the E 300 model features tremendous pulling power even at low engine speeds, with its advanced 4-cylinder petrol engine with mild hybrid and 48-volt on-board electrical system, it delivers an even more powerful output to 258 horsepower and 400nm of torque.

The E-Class is also equipped with a 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission, which ensures seamless power delivery, and its suspension system includes Airmatic air suspension with ADS+ continuously adjustable damping and rear-axle steering.

The rear-axle steering comes with up to 4.5 degrees of articulation.

At high speeds, this noticeably improves driving stability. While at low and medium speeds, the driver negotiates bends with more agility and benefits from a smaller turning circle when parking and maneuvering.

The firm says at Mercedes-Benz, safety always comes first. This is greatly emphasized in the new E-Class which is equipped with an array of new and extended driving assistance systems; including Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side, Blind Spot Assist, and Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC.

This enhances driver safety and reduces workload, making driving more comfortable and secure for Nigerian road users.

According to the statement, the all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class is now available nationwide at Weststar’s authorized Mercedes-Benz dealerships such as Barbedos Cars Limited, MB Automobile Services Limited, Skymit Motors Limited, Sunny Motors Limited, and Tetralog Nigeria Limited.

 

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