Auto
Isuzu president visits Nigeria, speaks on how to stimulate auto industry, new products
Isuzu president visits Nigeria, speaks on how to stimulate auto industry, new products
President of Isuzu Motors International FZE, Dubai, Mr. Mansoor Ahmed, was in Nigeria last week to assess the automaker’s business performance and how to boost it.
He canvassed more government support for local automakers and other investors in the automobile sector to stimulate economic growth.
According to him, automobile plays a vital role in the industrial development of a nation that will lead to massive job creation for the teeming youth population.
Ahmed spoke in Lagos on Thursday during the visit of the Isuzu executives’ team to the brand’s representative in Nigeria, Koncept Autocentre Limited, a Kewalram Chanrai group company.
The team including Geoffrey Mulandi, Isuzu Deputy Vice President and Sales Head for Sub-Saharan Africa; and Jijo Thomas, Country Head, Nigeria, were received by the Managing Director, Kewalram Chanrai Auto/Transport Vertical, Mr. Anil Sahgal.
Ahmed said for Nigeria to play well under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, he stressed that auto component tier 1, 2 and 3 producers should be encouraged to set up factories to produce various components like tyres, batteries, suspension and trims to get the required 30 per cent local content for auto assemblers to feed other West African nations.
The Isuzu president said, “Government needs to encourage manufacturers to come into the industry.
“There is a need for minimum viable scale to be able to manufacture locally else the business will lose money and will not be sustainable.
“It is about providing the enabling auto policy/structure or law for incentivizing local manufacturers. To motivate investors there should be preferential treatment vs imports on local manufactured vehicles.
He said Isuzu was focusing on Africa because the continent is rightfully considered as the last frontier of global growth.
He described Nigeria as the epicentre of the growth in Western Africa with the country’s huge population and size of its economy, the biggest in Africa.
Ahmed said, “For us, the strategic area for growth is the Middle East and Africa.
“Nigeria’s latent potential is enormous. It is a country with enormous resources, natural and human. It is blessed with oil and has a basket of multiple products in terms of what it has to export.
“Its huge population is also an advantage with the ensuing demographic dividend. Economic growth is based on population and consumption on the demand side.
“The country has a connected aspiring and entrepreneurial young population, a clear demographic advantage.”
Even as he affirmed that Isuzu was doing well in the light and medium duty truck segments in Nigeria, Ahmed said there was room for expansion and it could feed other nations in West Africa.
He said, “Nigeria is the leading economy in Africa and it should be steering and leading others in the auto industry.
“How do you stimulate the industry? Truck is not easy to produce; we are talking about 6,000 to 10,000 parts. There is the OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) level; there are Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3.
“Right now, a market for just 3,000 new trucks is still small size and insufficient for large investments. But with 200 million people and the economy starting to boom, it should be doing about 40,000 trucks, looking at what India is doing.”
He also shared the vision for Africa where Isuzu dreams to inspire African society to prosper thorough offering new integrated business solutions for both products and services.
He said as people’s lives are always supported by the logistics and transportation services, Isuzu has seriously been working for an enhancement of innovation in the transportation and mobility solutions to the society.
Anil, who also spoke on the brand, said Isuzu is the expert in diesel with focus on delivering top quality, reliable and durable trucks and is the global leader in the light duty and medium duty trucks.
He also commented on the government’s drive towards gas-powered vehicles in the face of rising petrol price after the removal of subsidy.
“We definitely want to support the Federal Government. But we need to have the necessary infrastructure in place like CNG filling stations sufficiently put in place to take the project far,” he said.
Mulandi in his contribution announced that the company would introduce to Nigeria, in the next one to two years, heavy duty trucks to increase Isuzu’s market share.
He also spoke on the company’s warranty and the after sales service for their customers.
“In Africa, we have standardised our warranty to three years for the light duty trucks; and two years for the medium duty. That is an indication that we care for the customers and trust our products.
According to him, “Currently, we are extending two-year or 40,000km free service including lubricants, parts and labour to all our new customers in this market.”
Auto
NADDC Pushes Affordable Auto Loans to Boost Vehicle Ownership, More Jobs
NADDC Pushes Affordable Auto Loans to Boost Vehicle Ownership, More Job
The National Automotive Design and Development Council has called for far-reaching reforms in vehicle financing to make car ownership more affordable while boosting local vehicle assembly, job creation and industrial development.
The Council said a properly structured financing system could turn vehicle credit from a mere consumer lending product into a major economic tool for expanding productive mobility and strengthening Nigeria’s automotive value chain.
Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Joseph Oluwemimo Osanipin, stated this in an address delivered on his behalf by the Council’s Principal Information Officer, Tanko Kyumnom, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Auto Sectoral Group Symposium in Lagos.
The symposium, held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the Henry Fajemirokun Hall of LCCI, was themed: “From Subsidy to Credit: Can Vehicle Financing Replace Fuel Subsidy as Nigeria’s Mobility Equaliser?”
Osanipin said the growing cost of mobility had made it necessary to explore financing models that would enable individuals, businesses and transport operators to acquire vehicles without bearing the full cost of ownership upfront.
According to him, spreading vehicle payments over an agreed period could provide a more sustainable pathway to vehicle acquisition, provided that the financing products are affordable, accessible and structured around the economic realities of Nigerian consumers.
He, however, cautioned that simply making credit available would not be enough.
“Vehicle financing offers a more sustainable approach by enabling individuals, businesses and transport operators to acquire vehicles and pay for them over time,” Osanipin stated.
The NADDC DG said the bigger opportunity lies in linking vehicle financing with the growth of locally assembled and Nigerian-made vehicles.
He explained that increased access to credit for locally produced vehicles could generate wider economic benefits by stimulating demand for domestic assembly, supporting component manufacturers, creating jobs and strengthening local supply chains.
Osanipin therefore urged stronger collaboration among government institutions, financial institutions, vehicle manufacturers and other stakeholders in designing financing schemes capable of supporting both mobility access and automotive industrialisation.
The NADDC boss identified affordable vehicle loans, leasing arrangements, fleet financing, credit guarantees and appropriate interest-rate support as mechanisms that could broaden access to vehicle ownership and productive mobility.
lt also stressed the need for repayment structures that take into account the earning patterns and business realities of Nigerians, particularly transport operators and small businesses whose vehicles are directly linked to their income-generating activities.
Osanipin maintained that the objective should extend beyond increasing the number of vehicles on Nigerian roads.
“The goal is not simply to put more vehicles on Nigerian roads. It is to ensure that Nigerians can access productive mobility without placing an unsustainable burden on government finances or household incomes,” he said.
According to him, a properly structured automotive financing system could create a stronger connection between mobility, economic inclusion and domestic vehicle production.
“With the right policies and partnerships, vehicle financing can become a powerful instrument for mobility, economic inclusion and automotive industrial development,” Osanipin added.
The NADDC’s position places vehicle financing within the broader effort to build a sustainable automotive ecosystem in Nigeria—one in which access to credit supports vehicle users while also creating stronger demand for local assembly, components and associated automotive services.
Auto
Jetour T1 Storms Abuja as Automaker Accelerates Nigeria Expansion
Jetour T1 Set to debut in Abuja as Expansion Gains Momentum
Following a successful debut in Lagos, Jetour Nigeria will host the Jetour Experience Abuja from September 22 to 24, 2026, positioning its all-new T1 model as a major competitor in the country’s growing adventure SUV market.
The three-day event in the Federal Capital Territory will give prospective buyers and motoring enthusiasts direct access to product demonstrations, expert-led technical sessions, and hands-on test drives.
“Strong participation, extensive test drives, and significant sales enquiries at the Lagos edition, coupled with growing demand from Abuja residents, influenced the decision to bring the experience to the nation’s capital,” the company said in a statement. The show holds at Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki.
To support its growing national footprint, Jetour Nigeria has established a network of seven accredited dealers: Elizade Nigeria Limited, New Era AutoVehicle Services Limited, Kojo Motors, Germaine Auto Centre, Tab Autos Limited, R.T. Briscoe Motors, and Mandilas Autos. The partnerships cover retail sales, genuine spare parts supply, and comprehensive after-sales maintenance.
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The T1 enters the market with a focal point on balance—combining off-road capability with urban comfort.
The smart T1 has the following features-
Dimensions: 4,705mm (L) x 1,967mm (W) x 1,843mm (H) |; Wheelbase: 2,800mm; and
Powertrains: 1.5L Turbo / 2.0L Turbo (254 hp, 390 Nm torque).
The drivetrain is BorgWarner XWD Intelligent 4WD | 7-Speed DCT or 8-Speed Automatic. Terrain Capability: 199mm ground clearance, 600mm wading depth, and 28° approach/departure angles.
Other features include 15.6-inch HD touchscreen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 platform, 8-speaker audio, 5-seater configuration with 574 litres of rear luggage space, 85 percent high-strength steel chassis alongside a Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), which includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Forward Collision Warning, and Autonomous Emergency Braking.
Since its Nigerian market entry, Jetour has secured several local and international automotive honors, including Fastest Growing Auto Brand of the Year and Auto Brand of the Year.
Jetour T1 Set to debut in Abuja as Expansion Gains Momentum
Auto
Abuja Demand Rises as Jetour Brings X70 Plus Experience to FCT
Abuja Demand Rises as Jetour Brings X70 Plus Experience to FCT
Jetour Nigeria is taking its seven-seater X70 Plus SUV to Abuja as rising interest from motorists in the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states fuels the brand’s latest push to deepen its presence across Nigeria.
The X70 Plus will headline the Jetour Experience Abuja, holding from September 22 to 24 at Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki, following the strong response recorded during the Lagos edition, where motorists turned out for test drives and made enquiries about Jetour models.
The Abuja activation is designed to give prospective buyers direct access to the X70 Plus and other models, with opportunities to test-drive the vehicles, engage product specialists and experience their technology, safety and comfort features.
The X70 Plus is positioned as a family-oriented SUV, offering seven-seat capacity and a range of features targeted at customers seeking comfort, technology and practicality.
The SUV is available with 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre turbocharged engine options, with outputs of up to 145kW and 290Nm of torque, paired with a dual-clutch automatic transmission.
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Its safety equipment includes front, side and curtain airbags, Vehicle Stability Control, Hill-Start Assist, Hill-Descent Control and a 360-degree panoramic camera with 2D and 3D viewing modes. Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems are also available.
Inside the cabin, the X70 Plus features a 10.23-inch LCD touchscreen, dual-zone climate control with air purification, wireless charging, a panoramic sunroof and an eight-speaker audio system.
Jetour Nigeria, the authorised distributor of the brand in the country, currently operates through seven accredited dealers: Elizade Nigeria Limited, Mandilas Autos, R.T. Briscoe Motors, Germaine Auto Centre, Kojo Motors, Tab Autos Limited and New Era Auto Vehicle Services Limited.
The company said the dealer network supports vehicle sales, genuine spare-parts supply and after-sales services across the country.
Jetour has also received recent industry recognition in Nigeria, including Fastest Growing Auto Brand by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association and Auto Brand of the Year at the Nigeria Transport Lecture and Awards.
The Abuja experience is expected to provide prospective customers in the FCT and surrounding states with direct access to the X70 Plus and other Jetour models as the brand continues its national market expansion.
Abuja Demand Rises as Jetour Brings X70 Plus Experience to FCT
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