Corolla, Creta, Rio in final race for Nigeria’s car of the year

• Jet Systems,  OMAA make EV, gas-powered vehicles list

Vehicles from three automakers, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Creta and Kia Rio, have emerged finalists for Nigeria’s car of the year.
Organisers of the 2021 Nigerian Auto Awards, Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), made the disclosure in a statement listing all finalists in each of the awards categories.
Eventual winners in each of the categories are expected to be declared on December 1, 2021 at the Eko Hotels and Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos, it stated.
According to the Chairman of the award committee, Theodore Opara, Weststar’s Associates Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and Coscharis Motors’ BMW 7-series will compete  in the Luxury car of the year segment. In the compact SUV segment, Toyota RAV4 is coming back to compete with Hyundai Tucson and Ford Escape for the coveted crown in this ever-growing sector of the Nigerian auto market.
In the pickup of the year segment, Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi L200 and Nissan Hardbody NP300 are set for another showdown as the contenders.
Hilux has won the awards on several occasions in the past, likewise the Ford Ranger.
While Jet Systems is captured in the electric bus promoter of the year. OMAA is also mentioned in the gas-powered vehicle promoter of the year.
Geely Coolray, being marketed by Mikano international Limited, is going head to head with Jaguar F-Pace from the Coscharis Motors’ stable in the outstanding design and technology of the year category.
Elizade Nigeria Ltd will be competing in the auto workshop of the year with Dana Motors and Mandilas Enterprise (Motor Division).
For the assembly plant of the year, Dana Motors, Stallion Motors’ VON assembly plant will slug it out in this category.
The Suzuki brand, which is being marketed by CFAO, is listed in the strongest comeback brand award, while PAN has been nominated for the most resilient auto company of the year.
Nigeria’s indigenous automaker, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co, is captured in the auto assembler of the year (local content)  because of its immense contribution in the development of the local auto industry and other ancillary allied automotive components.
Giving more insights into the special recognition awards, Opara disclosed that the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, will be honoured for his massive patronage of locally assembled vehicles from Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company.
“His gesture has immensely helped to develop the local auto industry and secure jobs for several thousands of Nigerians, and for this, he has been nominated as the Governor of the Year: Automotive Industry Support,” he added.
Chairman of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association, Mike Ochonma, said all vehicles nominated in the various categories represented exceptional value and designs.
‘’The NAJA awards event, which holds every year, is part of our contributions towards the development of Nigeria’s automotive industry,’’ he stated.