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Isuzu president visits Nigeria, speaks on how to stimulate auto industry, new products

Published

12 months ago

September 25, 2023

Dy. Vice President/ Sales Head for Sub-Saharan Africa for Isuzu International, Geoffrey Mulandi; President of Isuzu Motors International, Mansoor Ahmed; Managing Director, Kewalram Chanrai Auto/Transport Vertical, Anil Sahgal, and Isuzu Country Head, Nigeria, Jijo Thomas, during the Isuzu team visit to Koncept Autos in Lagos...on Thursday.

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.”

Related Topics:Isuzu President Mansoor Ahmed Koncept Autocentre

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CNG: Motorists get N230/SCM, free conversion for Lagos vehicles

Published

2 days ago

September 13, 2024

Trends Admin

CNG: Motorists get N230/SCM, free conversion for Lagos vehicles

The Federal Government has announced a new programme offering free Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion for vehicles at six designated sites across Lagos State.

On Thursday, Lagos State’s Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, shared the news via his official X account, highlighting that this initiative is part of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi).

According to him, the conversion would begin on Friday, September 13, from 3 pm to 6 pm, at six designated locations as part of Operation First Come, First Serve.

The first 50 vehicles that pass inspection at each of the six locations will be fitted with free CNG conversion kits, allowing owners to refuel at N230 per SCM of CNG at any NIPCO station, leading to significant savings compared to petrol.

Osiyemi encouraged residents to seize this opportunity to benefit from the initiative.

CNG: Motorists get N230/SCM, free conversion for Lagos vehicles

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TCAN to host Nigeria Transport Sector Summit October 17

Published

7 days ago

September 9, 2024

Trends Admin

TCAN to host Nigeria Transport Sector Summit October 17

Forum to discuss intermodal transport challenges, prospects for Nigeria

Stakeholders are gearing up to attend a maiden edition of the Nigeria Transport Sector Summit, an annual forum for all industry major players, regulators and professionals to brainstorm on issues germane to the development of the transportation sector.

Organisers of the forum, the Transportation Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN), said the event would hold on Thursday October 17, 2024 at Radisson Hotel Ikeja, Lagos.

A statement on Monday, signed by Chairman of TCAN, Mr Yinka Aderibigbe, and the event’s Organising Committee Chairman, Mr Rasheed Bisiriyu, gave the theme of this year’s event as ‘Intermodal Transport: Prospects and Challenges’.

The forum is expected to be declared open by the Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, while former Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, would deliver the keynote address, the statement added.

The statement said, “The focus on intermodal transportation in the maiden edition of the annual summit is deliberate. It is aimed at bringing together relevant stakeholders across all subsectors of the transport industry with a view to forming a working synergy rather than working at cross-purposes.

“Such arrangement will engender seemly operation greater efficiency through lower costs, operational flexibility and reduced environmental impact that will ultimately benefit all.”

Already, TCAN said a team of speakers had been carefully selected to do justice to the issue under focus.

It said a panel of discussants featuring some relevant members of the intelligentsia, heads of prominent agencies/organisations would speak to the sub-themes of the summit around railway, road, inland waterways and aviation sub-sectors of the transportation industry.

An industry journal produced by TCAN would be formally unveiled as one of the highpoints of the event, the statement added.

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Carloha unbeatable discount on Chery Tiggo 2 excites new car buyers at Mega Plaza display

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2 weeks ago

September 4, 2024

Trends Admin

Carloha unbeatable discount on Chery Tiggo 2 excites new car buyers at Mega Plaza display

Carloha Nigeria’s spectacular three-day display event at Mega Plaza from August 30, 2024, to September 1, 2024 may have come and gone. But the experience at the event is still being discussed and reverberating among new car buyers in Lagos and beyond.
Of particular interest is the unbeatable discount offered by the company on the Chery Tiggo 2.
Visitors who attended the event were able to take advantage of special pricing of N25m promotion, making it the perfect time to consider a new vehicle purchase.
The limited-time offers created a buzz, leading to numerous inquiries, it was learnt.
A statement by the management of Carloha Nigeria said, “This exclusive offer for Tiggo 2 Pro at Mega Plaza is one of the many ways of making Chery vehicle ownership easy and affordable for all customers in Nigeria”
It was discovered that the exclusive offer for Tiggo 2 Pro during the Mega Plaza display was considerably the best price for a new car anywhere.
The company further stated that Carloha had raised the bar, by providing automotive solutions that would bring peace of mind to our numerous customers.
“The six-year free service along with six years warranty or 200,000-kilometer whichever comes first, is a great aftersale incentive to boost customers’ confidence in their purchase decision,” it stated.
Carloha has established adequate aftersales service network covering major cities in every state of Nigeria, ensuring that car owners can enjoy reliable services no matter their location.
According to the statement, Chery has a team of over 10 Chinese technical engineers and local technicians who offer on-site guidance to solve any car-related issues, ensuring a worry-free driving experience for owners.
The event was found to be a resounding success, drawing in automotive enthusiasts and potential car buyers, who seized the unique opportunity to experience the dynamic world of Chery firsthand and explore the remarkable features of the Chery Tiggo 2, one of the brand’s standout models.
The event showcased the Chery Tiggo 2, a compact SUV that has been turning heads with its stylish design, robust features, and unbeatable value.
Visitors had the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the Tiggo 2, learning about its features, performance, and what sets it apart from other vehicles in its class.
During the three-day display, Chery Tiggo 2 stood out as a favourite among visitors.
The Tiggo 2 boasts a modern and sleek design, with a bold front grille, sharp headlights, and dynamic lines that give it a sporty yet sophisticated appearance. It’s a car that turns heads wherever it goes.
Inside, the Tiggo 2 offers a spacious and well-designed cabin, equipped with comfortable seating for up to five passengers.
High-quality materials and thoughtful touches, such as adjustable seats and ample legroom, ensure a comfortable ride for all.
The Tiggo 2 comes loaded with technology features designed to enhance the driving experience.
It includes a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth connectivity, and a multifunction steering wheel, keeping drivers connected and entertained on the go.
Safety is a top priority with the Tiggo 2. It comes equipped with multiple airbags, ABS with EBD, a rearview camera, and parking sensors, providing peace of mind to both drivers and passengers.
Chery vehicles use more than 60 per cent high-strength steel, which provides effective protection for passengers in case of an accident, even in areas of the car that are not visible.
Powered by a 1.5L petrol engine, the Tiggo 2 strikes an excellent balance between performance and fuel efficiency. It offers smooth handling, responsive steering, and a comfortable ride, making it perfect for both city driving and weekend getaways.
The event was not only just about cars but also about creating memorable experiences for customers.
There were also live demonstrations by Chery experts who provided detailed insights into the vehicle’s features and capabilities.
Following the success of the Mega Plaza event, Carloha says it is excited to announce plans for future displays and events, where more exclusive deals and exciting activities will be unveiled. It added that those who missed the opportunity to attend the event would have new chances to experience Chery vehicles up close and personal.
“Carloha and Chery would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who visited the display at Mega Plaza.
“Your visit made the event a huge success,” it declared, and urged people interested in other Chery vehicles to visit https://www.chery.com.ng.
Carloha is the authorised importer and assembler of Chery vehicles in Nigeria.