Carloha’s after-sales strategy transforming auto ownership in Nigeria, GM speaks to firm’s award

Carloha Nigeria, the authorised distributor and assembler of Chery vehicles in the country, has been named Most Outstanding After-Sales Car Company in Nigeria 2025 by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), a recognition that underscores the company’s growing influence in reshaping vehicle ownership standards nationwide.

Reacting to the award, Carloha Nigeria’s General Manager, Marketing, Felix Mahan, said the honour affirms the company’s deliberate focus on building a dependable, customer-focused after-sales ecosystem in a market long plagued by inefficiencies.

“This recognition did not come as a surprise to us,” Mahan said. “Rather, it validates our commitment to redefining vehicle ownership in Nigeria through an after-sales model that delivers real value and earns the trust of even the most critical industry observers.”

Nigeria’s automotive market has historically been characterised by fragmented service networks, inconsistent maintenance standards, unclear pricing and limited access to genuine spare parts—challenges that have driven up ownership costs and weakened consumer confidence. Carloha says its strategy is designed to confront these issues directly.

Positioning itself as more than a vehicle distributor, the integrated automotive and mobility company has built an after-sales framework anchored on transparency, accessibility and reliability, aimed at delivering predictable and stress-free ownership experiences.

A Customer-First After-Sales Philosophy

At the heart of Carloha’s approach is the belief that owning a vehicle should be empowering, not burdensome. This philosophy has shaped a comprehensive after-sales structure that supports customers well beyond the point of purchase.

Nationwide Service Network

Carloha has expanded its service footprint across major cities and emerging urban centres, including Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Kano and Port Harcourt.

Its growing network of owned and partner service centres is staffed by certified local and expatriate technicians and equipped with modern diagnostic tools, ensuring uniform service quality nationwide.

CarlohaCare 6-6-7 for New Chery Vehicles

One of the company’s flagship offerings is the CarlohaCare 6-6-7 package. With the exception of the Himla model, every new Chery vehicle purchased from Carloha comes with a six-year warranty, six years of free servicing covering labour and parts, and a seven-day repair promise. If repairs exceed seven days, customers are provided with a courtesy vehicle.

The package is designed to eliminate uncertainty around maintenance costs and remove the surprise expenses that have long frustrated Nigerian car owners.

Confidence in Pre-Owned vehicles

Carloha has also extended its after-sales innovation to the pre-owned segment through CarlohaCare for Pre-Owned vehicles. Each vehicle undergoes a rigorous 149-point inspection to meet strict functional and aesthetic standards. Buyers also receive a three-month warranty and a seven-day repair promise—features rarely seen in Nigeria’s used-car market.

Parts and Support

All servicing is carried out using original or OEM-approved parts sourced from vetted suppliers and installed by trained technicians, ensuring safety, durability and long-term value retention.

Carloha’s after-sales engagement is also proactive. Customers receive digital service reminders, personalised notifications and access to dedicated support teams, keeping them informed and in control throughout their ownership journey.

Extending Ownership Value

Beyond routine servicing, the company offers roadside assistance, trade-in and upgrade advisory services, ownership education workshops and extended warranty options for pre-owned vehicles—initiatives aimed at improving long-term satisfaction and vehicle longevity.

Measurable impact

According to the company, its after-sales model has delivered tangible benefits, including reduced total cost of ownership, shorter service downtime, higher customer satisfaction, improved resale values and stronger customer loyalty driven by trust and referrals.

By prioritising long-term value and customer experience, Carloha is helping to raise service expectations across Nigeria’s automotive sector, encouraging higher standards and restoring confidence in structured auto ownership.

Carloha says it maintains that vehicle ownership should be built on confidence, care and continuous value.

Through its evolving after-sales model, the company says it is not merely selling cars, but fostering a new culture of reliable, worry-free auto ownership for Nigerian motorists.

Carloha’s after-sales strategy transforming auto ownership in Nigeria, GM speaks to firm’s award

NADDC DG, Nord CEO emerge Nigeria’s Auto personalities of the year 

Nigeria’s automotive industry took centre stage in Lagos as the Nigeria Auto Journalists’ Association (NAJA) honoured two of its most influential change-makers at the 18th NAJA International Auto Awards. The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Otunba Joseph Osanipin, and the Chairman/CEO of Nord Motors, Oluwatobi Ajayi, were crowned Auto Personalities of the Year in the public and private sectors respectively.

This is in recognition of their pivotal roles in reshaping policy direction, driving local production and accelerating the country’s transition towards sustainable mobility.

The awards, held at the Oriental Hotel on Victoria Island, Lagos, gathered policymakers, industry executives, manufacturers, assemblers, media professionals and automotive innovators to honour excellence across Nigeria’s automotive value chain, from vehicles and service providers to visionary leaders driving structural change.

Otunba Joseph Osanipin, Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), was honoured as Auto Personality of the Year (Public Sector).

NAJA highlighted his remarkable leadership in steering policy frameworks, galvanising local vehicle assembly, and championing alternative energy solutions that position Nigeria’s auto industry as a reliable engine for industrialisation and economic progress.

Under Osanipin’s stewardship, the NADDC has focused on:

Policy advocacy and industry development promoting Nigeria’s automotive vision.

Support for local vehicle assembly and capacity building for domestic value chains.

Strategic thrusts on alternative fuels and green mobility, complementing Nigeria’s broader energy transition goals.

In his acceptance remarks, Osanipin praised NAJA’s vital role in amplifying industry narratives and reinforcing transparency, innovation and accountability.

He underlined the importance of automotive journalism in informing the public and shaping policy debates, urging deeper collaboration between media and government to accelerate growth pathways.

Private Sector

On the private sector front, Oluwatobi Ajayi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nord Motors, clinched Auto Personality of the Year (Private Sector), cementing his status as one of the most influential voices in Nigeria’s automotive industry.

Ajayi’s journey from Mercedes-Benz Nigeria, where he rose to Head of Vans Division, to co-founder of Jetvan and eventually CEO of Nord Motors illustrates a blend of engineering insight and entrepreneurial brilliance.

His leadership has been marked by a unique commitment to local production, technological innovation and home-grown brand building in a market long dominated by imports.

A few of Ajayi’s industry achievements include: Launch of Tavet Motion, an electric vehicle subsidiary dedicated to Nigeria’s EV future.

Unveiling of three locally assembled EV models — Luto, Garent and Vant — signalling Nigeria’s stride into sustainable mobility.

Industry observers say Ajayi’s recognition underscores the growing influence of private innovators who are redefining mobility in Africa through cutting-edge engineering, job creation and forward-looking enterprise models.

A Night of Broader Celebration and Industry Recognition

Beyond the personality awards, the 2025 NAJA Auto Awards spotlighted excellence across multiple categories, affirming the breadth of competition and innovation driving Nigeria’s auto industry forward:

Jetour Dashing was crowned Nigeria’s 2025 Car of the Year, a testament to rising consumer demand for modern, tech-enabled vehicles.

Mikano International earned Auto Company of the Year, while Toyota Nigeria’s Isolo facility was recognised as Workshop of the Year.

Local assembly and manufacturing players such as Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing and Iron Products Industries Ltd received accolades, reflecting the growing robustness of indigenous capacity.

New entrants and EV-focused brands also featured strongly, signalling growing attention on future mobility even as combustion engines remain dominant.

The NAJA awards come at a pivotal moment for the Nigerian auto sector as it aligns with broader national goals on sustainable mobility, job creation and industrial expansion.

With government pledges toward zero-emission vehicles by 2040, and expanded focus on local electric vehicle production, industry dynamics are rapidly shifting.

Osanipin and Ajayi’s wins reflect a dual narrative — policy ambition and entrepreneurial execution — that could define Nigeria’s automotive future over the coming decade.

In summary: As the industry celebrates its movers and shakers, the victories of Osanipin and Ajayi at the NAJA Auto Awards aren’t just personal milestones — they represent milestones for Nigeria’s auto industry as it navigates transformation from import dependency to innovation-driven growth.

Toyota Nigeria, Coscharis, Weststar sweep top honours at NAJA Auto Awards

Toyota Nigeria, Coscharis Motors and Weststar Associates stamped their authority on Nigeria’s automotive industry at the 18th Nigeria Auto Journalists’ Association (NAJA) International Auto Awards, emerging as dominant winners in a ceremony that underscored their market strength, brand leadership and after-sales excellence.

The high-profile event, held in December at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, once again affirmed the NAJA Awards as a key industry benchmark—rewarding innovation, performance and sustained contribution to Nigeria’s fast-evolving automotive ecosystem.

Toyota Nigeria was a standout performer, taking home three major awards at the ceremony:
Minibus of the Year – Toyota Hiace, a long-standing favourite among commercial transport operators.

Pick-Up of the Year – Toyota Hilux, cementing its reputation for durability and performance in Nigeria’s challenging road conditions.

Workshop of the Year – Toyota’s ultra-modern Isolo workshop in Lagos was recognised for after-sales excellence and technical competence.

These wins reflect Toyota’s sustained appeal among both commercial and private buyers, as well as its investment in service infrastructure that enhances customer confidence in vehicle ownership.

Coscharis Motors also captured significant attention with two accolades:
Multiple Brand Auto Company of the Year, recognising Coscharis’s diversified brand portfolio and impact across segments.

Luxury Auto SUV of the Year, awarded to the Range Rover Autobiography, a model that combines premium performance with luxury appeal.

The company’s success signals the strength of luxury automotive demand in Nigeria, driven by rising consumer expectations for comfort, status and technology in high-end SUVs.

Weststar Associates Limited, Nigeria’s franchise holder for Mercedes-Benz, added to the night’s big winners with two prestigious titles:
Luxury Car of the Year – Mercedes-Benz E-Class, recognised for its blend of innovation, comfort and performance.
Luxury Brand of the Year – Mercedes-Benz, reinforcing the marque’s enduring desirability and brand strength in the Nigerian luxury segment.

While the spotlight rightly shone on these corporate giants, the NAJA awards also highlighted the broader dynamism of Nigeria’s automotive industry.

The Jetour Dashing was crowned Nigeria’s 2025 Car of the Year in a fiercely contested category, while local and emerging players — including JIM-ISUZU, JéGO EV and Nord A9 — were celebrated as New Entrants of the Year, illustrating the market’s increasing diversity and competitiveness.

Industry stakeholders at the event emphasised the role of automotive journalism in promoting professionalism, accountability and consumer awareness, as well as the importance of local assembly, technological adaptation and after-sales excellence in driving sector growth.

Bottom Line:

Toyota’s commercial reliability, Coscharis’s luxury appeal, and Weststar’s premium leadership dominated this year’s NAJA Auto Awards — a clear signal of the evolving priorities of Nigerian car buyers and the competitive strength of these industry leaders.