Updated: Jetour hits Nigerian market with affordable top-class SUVs

The Nigerian automobile market has received a boost with the introduction of Jetour, a new brand from the Chery Holding Group, offering top-class affordable luxury vehicles.
The automaker says the brand was introduced in response to the market trend and consumers’ demand.
With the slogan ‘Drive Your Future’, Jetour focuses on the travel + market segment, and its products are mainly SUVs to satisfy users for better travel.
The brand which is now in the Nigerian market was launched globally in 2018 to provide practical travel solutions for more families and individual.
Its vehicles are uniquely designed with intelligent driving and energy-saving electric system.
Indeed, Jetour says its vehicles are produced from an intelligent factory that incorporates automation, intelligent customization, flexibility, scalability, and environmental conservation.
Jetour’s goal is also to provide excellent vehicles that demonstrate individuality for today’s young people.

Brand users
The brand is targeted at uncompromising group of individuals, unwilling to settle for mediocrity and are certain that brilliance is gained through action rather than waiting.

Jetour concept
Jetour is derived from Jet+Tour, which connotes “convenient tour”. This means that customers that work hard in many industries can finally enjoy the benefits of their wonderful and happy lifestyles.

Technical strength
The brand focuses on core new energy technologies, offering the latest comprehensive energy technology system; Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) platform and the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) platform.
With technologies such as intelligent driving, intelligent network connection, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), its products are sold to many nations globally.
The core technologies of new energy electric vehicles such as battery, motor, electronic control, and vehicle controller have been independently applied to the different platform models.

Engine
The automaker says its vehicles are powered by one of China’s top ten engines. Jetour is the first Chinese brand with 1.6TGDI turbo-charged engine.
It is also considered the first Chinese brand with direct injection gasoline (petrol) engine that meets China VI emission regulations.
The brand comes with the industry’s top power, the strongest Chinese brand. It enjoys the Kunpeng Power 2.0TGD1, Golden Power Portfolio, 7DCT, Strong power 187KW, 390N.m and 100 km/h acceleration < 8 seconds.
Jetour says, “More than 1,000 people worked on the Kunpeng Power 2.0TGDI engine, which is based on Chery’s 23 years of positive engine development skill, a solid product development system, and an advanced verification system that relies on three main Research and Development (R&D) facilities in Europe and China (Wuhu, Shanghai).”
The team’s five advantages are super energy, ultra-clean, ultra-quiet, ultra-solid, and ultra-light, which took 48 months to develop.
It has a maximum power output of 187kW and a maximum torque output of 390N m, and the power reserve is comparable to one 3SL V6 engine.

Quality Control
The automaker has four main test locations, and the vehicles undergo 2,000,000km of rigorous verification to ensure industry-leading quality.

Global layout
Jetour has a worldwide development strategy and development vision, and its vehicles are exported to many nations globally.
The models available in the Nigerian market are X70 – Liberty; X70 Plus – Elegance; X90 Plus – Cruise and Dashing.

LCCI faults Customs frequent reviews of import duties

…suggests measures to stimulate auto industry growth

President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, says government’s policy inconsistency is stunting the growth of automotive industry in Nigeria.
He particularly faulted frequent reviews of import duties by the Nigeria Custom Services (NCS).
Olawale-Cole spoke through his deputy Gabriel Idahosa in Lagos on Thursday along with key players in the Nigerian auto industry at a symposium organised by the LCCI Auto and Allied Group under the theme ‘The Auto & Allied Sector: Present Day Realities in Nigeria’.
The Chairman of CIG Motor, Chief Diana Chen; General Manager of Suzuki By CFAO, Aissatou Diouf; Executive Director at Truckmaster Nigeria, Dr. Oseme Oigiagbe, and Mandela Oniemola, were other key speakers at the forum.
Olawale-Cole kicked against the Customs use of spot exchange rate to compute import duties.
He said, “The decline recorded in third quarter is a testament of automobile industry reactions to policy inconsistency, that is amplified by frequent reviews of import duties by the Nigeria Custom Services (NCS).”
He also noted that the twin effect of subsidy removal and exchange rates harmonization had impacted the industry with inconsequential gains and huge loss to the stakeholders.
He said, “If the government is not swift in stabilising exchange rate, investors may be discouraged, and domestic producers will be sceptical about mass production of vehicles that is perceived costly.
“It is important to note that the MDAs, especially the Nigeria Customs (NCS) should not use spot exchange rate as the basis for computing import duties in order to avert uncertainty and minimise the consequences of information asymmetric among stakeholders in the industry.
“However, computation that is based on last month average exchange rate could be a more reliable methodology among others. This approach will allow stakeholders to anticipate and estimate the cost of import duties that is void of misinformation, and frequent adjustment by the NCS.”
He urged the government to work with the private sector players to develop policies that promote and reduce the cost of local production as well as “encourage innovation and competitiveness to ensure the growth and sustainability of the automotive industry.
“The Federal Government, and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) should collaborate with the private stakeholders to encourage investments in the industry.”
He called for the establishment of an automated banking system and a resilient local manufacturing sector.
“The sector should prioritize the use of quality-controlled, domestically manufactured parts and components, together with a skilled workforce of specialists capable of supporting investments in manufacturing and assembly,” he said.
Chairman, Automobile and Allied Services Group at LCCI, Otunba Adekunle Jaiyesimi, spoke on the significant role of the automotive industry to the nation’s economy.

“From manufacturing and distribution to maintenance and repair services, it contributes to employment, revenue, and technological advancement,” he stated
Jaiyesimi listed the challenges and opportunities in the sector as technological advancements; sustainability and environmental issues; supply chain disruptions and government policies and regulation.

NADDC DG, KPMG economist Kale for LCCI auto industry symposium

The Auto & Allied sub-Sectoral Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is set to hold a symposium on the Nigeria’s fledging automotive industry.

The programme holding on November 30, 2023 with the theme: The Auto & Allied Sector, Present-Day Realities in Nigeria’, at the LCCI Commerce House, Victoria Island, Lagos, will be attended by many leading auto industry stakeholders as well as experts from other fields of the economy.

According to a statement made available by Austin Akpovili, chairman of the symposium organizing committee, guest speakers expected at the symposium are Joseph Oluwemimo-Osanipin, director-general, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC); Yemi Kale, partner and chief economist at KPMG Professional Services.

Panelists at the programme are Aissatou Diuof, general manager, Suzuki by CFAO Motors Nigeria Limited; Mayokun Fadeyibi, chief operating officer, Autochek Africa; and Diana Chen, chairman and chief executive officer, CIG Motors Limited.

Michael Olawale-Cole, president of LCCI and Kunle Jayesimi are the chief host and host respectively.

Commenting on the forthcoming symposium, Jayesimi, who is chairman of the Auto & Allied sub-Sectoral Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that the theme of this year’s symposium reflects the current realities confronting Nigeria’s automotive sector.

He expressed optimism that both the keynote speakers and the panelists invited to the symposium would provide useful insights and frameworks on best ways possible to address the hydra-headed problem confronting the local automotive sector over the years.

On his own submission, Akpovili, chairman of the symposium organising committee stated that, he is very positive that the calibre of the speakers at this year’s symposium would provide quality propositions on the way forward for the automobile industry in the present day realities of Nigeria.

Expected at the all-important symposium are all the major automobile dealers, Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON), the Nigerian Automobile Manufacturers Association (NAMA) and the mechanic bodies.

Others targeted are the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), KPMG and Delloite, the Japanese embassy, the German and United States consulates.

The list also includes the Bureau of Public Enterprise, the Nigeria Customs Service, Publicity and Advocacy group of the of LCCI Chambers, customs clearing agents/association with Frank Aigbogun, publisher of of BusinessDay as the moderator.