Uwatse Joins Ade-Ojo, Maduka in Exclusive League of Nigeria Auto Legends

In a rare recognition of industry leadership and enduring contributions to Nigeria’s automotive sector, the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) has named Chief Benson Uwatse, Chairman of Weststar Associates Limited, recipient of the prestigious Nigeria Auto Legend Award at the 19th Nigeria Auto Industry Awards.

Uwatse’s emergence places him in an exclusive league of automotive icons, making him the third industry heavyweight to receive the distinction after Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, Chairman of Toyota Nigeria Limited, and Dr Cosmas Maduka, President and Chief Executive Officer of Coscharis Group.

The recognition celebrates Uwatse’s more than three decades of involvement in the Nigerian automotive industry, particularly his role in advancing the Mercedes-Benz brand and strengthening its presence in the country’s premium and luxury vehicle market.

The recognition underscores Uwatse’s longstanding involvement in the Nigerian automotive sector and his contributions to the development and representation of the globally renowned Mercedes-Benz brand in the country.

As Chairman of Weststar Associates Limited, the authorised general distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria, Uwatse occupies a strategic position in the country’s premium and luxury automobile market.

Weststar is responsible for coordinating Mercedes-Benz’s business activities in Nigeria, covering passenger cars, commercial vehicles, trucks and buses, alongside dealer support, marketing, training, genuine spare parts supply, warranties and after-sales services.

The company officially commenced operations in February 2008, assuming responsibility for Mercedes-Benz sales and after-sales operations in Nigeria. Its distribution network and authorised dealerships provide sales and servicing support across different parts of the country.

Uwatse’s association with the Mercedes-Benz brand spans more than three decades, giving him considerable experience in the Nigerian automotive business, particularly in premium vehicle distribution, customer relations and brand development.

His involvement in the business has also included leadership responsibilities in the Mercedes-Benz dealership network, specifically as Managing Director of MB Automobile Services Limited, one of the authorised Mercedes-Benz dealers in Nigeria.

The Nigeria Auto Legend Award is particularly significant because it recognises individuals whose contributions extend beyond routine business operations to the development, growth and advancement of the nation’s automotive industry.

Chief Ade.Ojo, the founder of Elizade Nigeria Limited and Chairman of Toyota Nigeria Limited, was the first recipient of the special industry recognition in 2017, in acknowledgement of his decades of investment, enterprise and contributions to Nigeria’s automobile business.

Dr Maduka, who transformed Coscharis from a modest automobile trading venture into one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous conglomerates, also earned recognition for his remarkable contributions to the automotive sector. Under his leadership, Coscharis Motors secured distribution franchises for several globally recognised automobile brands, including BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and Ford.

Uwatse’s emergence as the third recipient further reinforces NAJA’s commitment to celebrating individuals whose leadership, enterprise and industry experience have contributed significantly to the evolution of Nigeria’s automotive landscape.

The 19th edition of the Nigeria Auto Industry Awards, organised by NAJA, is scheduled to hold on Thursday, December 3, 2026, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The annual awards bring together automobile manufacturers, distributors, dealers, policymakers, regulators, industry professionals and other stakeholders to celebrate outstanding achievements and recognise excellence across Nigeria’s automotive and transportation sectors.

EXEED Sets Sight on Nigeria’s Luxury Car Market, Showcases Technology, Design Vision

Versat Automobile Limited, the Nigerian representative of EXEED, is stepping up efforts to introduce the premium automotive brand to the country, offering prospective customers a closer look at its technology, design philosophy and vision for the future of mobility.

The move signals a new phase in EXEED’s Nigerian market entry, as the company seeks to establish its identity in an increasingly competitive premium vehicle segment where technology, performance, comfort and ownership experience are becoming important considerations for buyers.

Following its initial introduction to Nigeria in August, Versat Automobile is advancing the brand’s pre-launch activities by highlighting the philosophy and engineering thinking behind EXEED, a premium automotive marque within the Chery Automobile family.

Drawing on Chery’s extensive investment in automotive research and development, EXEED’s technology proposition covers vehicle architecture, powertrain engineering, intelligent cabin systems and connected driving technology.

However, the brand says its approach to innovation goes beyond simply adding more technological features to vehicles. Rather, it focuses on integrating intelligence, convenience, connectivity and performance to improve the overall driving experience and respond to the expectations of modern motorists.

Design is another major pillar of EXEED’s identity, with its vehicles combining distinctive exterior styling, lighting, detailing and cabin architecture with functionality and everyday usability.

The company’s approach reflects an evolving definition of premium mobility, where luxury is no longer determined solely by a vehicle’s appearance but also by how it feels, functions and interacts with occupants.

At the heart of the brand is its philosophy, Born for More, which is reinforced by what it describes as its Spirit of Exploration.

The philosophy is built around challenging conventions, looking beyond familiar boundaries and pursuing new possibilities. It targets customers who seek experiences beyond the ordinary and view mobility as more than simply moving from one destination to another.

Versat Automobile believes this positioning could resonate with Nigeria’s evolving premium automotive market, where buyers are increasingly considering technology, contemporary design, performance, comfort and the overall ownership experience when making purchasing decisions.

Christopher Irumudomon, General Manager, Sales, Versat Automobile Limited, said the introduction of EXEED was about presenting Nigerians with a different perspective on premium mobility rather than merely adding another vehicle brand to the market.

“The introduction of EXEED is about more than bringing another automotive brand to Nigeria. It is about introducing a different perspective on premium mobility, one that brings together technology, design, performance and the freedom to explore.

“EXEED has a distinctive philosophy and a clear vision for what it wants to represent, and we are excited to give Nigerians a closer look at the brand and what it has to offer,” he said.

As part of its broader engagement with the global technology and mobility ecosystem, the Versat team is also scheduled to participate in the International User Summit in China in October.

The visit is expected to provide opportunities for further engagement with Aimoga, a high-end robotics brand, highlighting the growing intersection between technological innovation, robotics and future mobility.

The engagement underscores the broader technological direction that EXEED seeks to associate with its premium brand identity.

Versat Automobile said further details about EXEED, including its products, technology and design philosophy, would be unveiled as the Nigerian pre-launch programme progresses.

Established in 2024, Versat Automobile Limited made its Nigerian market debut in 2026 with C&C Trucks and is building its portfolio around globally positioned automotive brands.

The company says its operations are guided by a commitment to performance, durability, quality, reliability and customer support, with EXEED representing its entry into the premium passenger vehicle segment.

For Nigeria’s automotive market, the forthcoming arrival of EXEED introduces another contender into the premium mobility conversation, with its eventual success likely to depend not only on the appeal of its technology and design but also on how effectively its Nigerian representative delivers on customer expectations.

Omoda, Jaecoo bet on warranty, after-sales support to win Nigerian car buyers

Omoda and Jaecoo are stepping up investment in warranty protection, spare-parts distribution and after-sales services as the emerging automotive brands seek to strengthen customer confidence and establish a lasting presence in increasingly competitive global markets.

The strategy is particularly relevant to Nigeria, where concerns about spare-parts availability, maintenance costs, technical expertise and the reliability of after-sales support often influence decisions when purchasing new vehicles.

Beyond attractive designs, advanced technology and vehicle performance, motorists increasingly want assurances that their investments will remain protected long after driving their cars out of showrooms.

Recognising this changing customer expectation, Omoda and Jaecoo are expanding their international after-sales infrastructure and warranty programmes to improve the ownership experience and address some of the industry’s longstanding concerns.

In the United Kingdom, vehicles from the two brands come with a seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty, while batteries in electrified models enjoy eight-year coverage.

Although warranty conditions differ across markets, the programme underscores the brands’ emphasis on long-term ownership support and customer assurance.

The companies are also advancing their Super Hybrid System, which combines petrol and electric power to deliver improved fuel efficiency while retaining the convenience of conventional refuelling.

The technology is designed to address a major concern among motorists considering electrified vehicles, particularly those who want the benefits of electric mobility without depending entirely on charging infrastructure.

The Jaecoo J7 PHEV has already attracted considerable attention in the UK market, emerging as Britain’s best-selling new SUV in September.

It also secured a Guinness World Record for the lowest fuel consumption recorded by a plug-in hybrid production SUV during the UK Three Peaks Challenge.

Similarly, the flagship Jaecoo J8 combines 428 horsepower with all-wheel-drive capability and an electric-only driving range of more than 130 kilometres.

In Indonesia, a Jaecoo vehicle also secured a Guinness World Record after covering a verified distance of 1,660 kilometres on a single tank of fuel and battery charge, further highlighting the efficiency potential of the brand’s hybrid technology.

Beyond product development and performance achievements, the companies are strengthening the supply chain that supports vehicle ownership.

A major step in this direction was the opening of a 12,000-square-metre spare-parts distribution centre in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone in December 2024.

The facility stocks more than 20,000 different components to support parts distribution and improve service delivery.

The company has also indicated plans to establish similar facilities across different continents, with expansion already underway in South Africa.

For Nigeria, where the cost and availability of genuine spare parts can significantly affect vehicle ownership expenses, such investments could have important implications.

A dependable distribution network would help reduce the challenges associated with sourcing replacement components, while effective warranty administration and access to trained technicians could improve customer satisfaction and strengthen confidence in the brands.

As competition intensifies in Nigeria’s automotive market, the ability to provide reliable after-sales support could become just as important as introducing technologically advanced vehicles at competitive prices.

For Omoda and Jaecoo, the challenge will be to translate their growing international infrastructure and warranty commitments into accessible, consistent and responsive services for Nigerian customers.

Ultimately, winning the confidence of Nigerian motorists will require more than impressive vehicles and international performance records. It will depend on the brands’ ability to support customers throughout the entire ownership journey, from the first showroom visit to routine servicing and eventual replacement of parts.