“While you have government investing with policy, some of the infrastructure and intellectual property,” he said.
Auto
Photos: Toyota excites, launches two new minivans, Noah, Voxy
Toyota Motor Corporation expects to capture more market share with the unveiling in Japan of two new Noah and Voxy as everybody’s minivans.
Noah and Voxy may be new to the Nigerian market, but they are making waves in other global markets. Indeed, the latest models, the fourth generation, are said to come with more comfort, convenience and peace of mind for riders.
Toyota says the new vehicles are to provoke a deeper sense of happiness that only minivans can offer.
In addition to the excellent packaging unique to minivans, it says the ease of use is further increased, with universal steps and free stop rear hatch doors using karakuri mechanism.
According to a statement released by the leading automaker, the new models come equipped with the latest advanced fixtures, including Toyota Safety Sense and Toyota Teammate.
It says, “They also come with exceptional dynamic performance, including the new-generation series parallel hybrid system.”
First introduced in November 2001, the Noah and Voxy are compact cab wagons developed in pursuit of the pure minivan fun, with sliding doors for easy entry and exit, and roomy, comfortable cabin spaces for lots of passengers and cargo.
They are said to be among the most popular cars, particularly with families.
The new fourth-generation Noah and Voxy encourage users to load up their hobbies and toys and hit the road.
Using the TNGA (GA-C) platform for their basic structure, these minivans were said to have been developed for a deeper sense of happiness that the outstanding packaging and ease-of-use their generations of models have always brought, and to achieve even greater minivan appeal through the latest advanced fixtures.
They have been designed based on three unique worldviews that further emphasize their features. For instance, the Noah is built on the concepts of “majestic, modern, and high quality” combined with “mainstream and aggressive,” while the Voxy goes for “leading edge and unique.”
According to Toyota, the vehicles’ body structure optimization enables more vertically aligned C pillars compared to previous models, which achieves a distance of 1,295 mm between left and right pillars (75 mm wider than previous models).
Coupled with a cabin height of 1,405 mm, this is said to create a more open feeling within the cabin.
They come with a large-capacity super luggage box that provides useful underfloor storage to allow tall cargo items and suitcases.
They have comfortable rear seats with different model options. For instance, the seven-seater models feature captain seats in the second row. In addition to ottoman mechanisms―a first for this class―and seat heaters, the seats also have large foldable side tables.
The lower-profile one-touch folding third-row seats also allow ultra-long straight sliding mechanisms (slide length of 745 mm*1), rather than requiring sideways sliding, without compromising ride comfort. Together, these features are said to enhance convenience and comfort.
The eight-seater models come with a three-person bench seat in a 60/40 split tip-up configuration*5 in the second row. Like the seven-seater, these models also use ultra-long sliding mechanisms.
Special two-person bench seats with handrails can also be provided as a package option, says Toyota. With access space provided at the left of the second-row seats, this configuration provides easy access to the third-row seats even with a child seat installed in the second row.
The provided options on the Noah are S-Z and Z grades, while the Voxy has S-Z grade. Ottoman mechanism is only available on 2WD models.
Access to rear seats
New Noah and Voxy equipped with power sliding doors have a universal step on the front. The step extends and retracts below the door by karakuri mechanism when opening and closing the sliding door. The step is 200mm high to provide easy access for the whole family, from children to the elderly.
These models also come with 460mm long hand grips as standard inclusions on both left and right B pillars.
Set at an easy height to grip for everyone from children to adults (bottom of grip is 895 mm from ground surface), the hand grip thickness is optimized at the top for adults and at the bottom for children.
Hands-free dual power sliding doors are included as package options. This enables users carrying the key to automatically open and close the sliding doors simply by placing their feet under the sensors at the bottom of the front doors. This is a very convenient feature when both hands are full, such as when carrying children, it adds.
Auto
LSM MD extols founder’s qualities after latter posthumous industry award
LSM MD extols founder’s qualities after latter posthumous industry award
*He left us a good name, says son
Founder and late Chairman of Lanre Shittu Motors (LSM), Alhaji Olanrewaju Shittu, has been honoured with a Nigerian auto industry posthumous award.
This was announced in Lagos at the 2024 edition of the annual
Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) announced this in Lagos at the 2024 recently industry awards.
The prestigious award was received by one of his sons, Mr Taiwo Shittu, who is also the managing director of the auto company.
NAJA said the award was in acknowledgement of the leading role of the LSM founder in the development of the automotive business in Nigeria, describing him as a silent achiever.
Speaking on the honour, Taiwo Shittu, who was also declared the Nigeria’s Auto Personality of the Year, praised his father for painstakingly building the LSM brand and leaving behind a good name to the delight of the children and the entire family members.
He described this as a legacy accounting for the success of the company so far since his father’s demise over a year ago.
He said, “I must thank my late father, Alhaji Razaq Olanrewaju Shittu, for building the brand name. There is nothing like a good name.
“If you don’t leave anything for your children other than a good name, the sky is the limit for them.
“In our own case, he left us money and the good name. We can’t thank him enough for leaving us with a good name.
“You can imagine that everywhere we turn to in the country, once we mention we are Lanre Shittu’s sons, we are ushered in immediately.
“People would say ‘Your father was a good man. He won’t cheat you if you did any business with him. His word was his bond; he never broke his promises’. I have heard this many times. And the only thing we can do is to build on this legacy.”
Taiwo Shittu also noted that the unity existing among the 20 surviving children of the late LSM founder was part of his father’s legacies and something for other family businesses in Nigeria to emulate.
He said, “A lot of businesses collapse after the death of their owners. Once a business founder is dead, the next you hear is that a fight has broken out and while one person is taking the arm, another is claiming the leg, the other is going for the body. And in six months, the whole empire is gone down.
“In our case, we have 20 siblings that are cooperative and believe in my ability to lead the business with my other brothers.
“We had a father who never spoiled us. He taught us sincerity, commitment and accountability.”
He also spoke about the lifestyle of the late father, saying even though he was a car dealer and loved cars, he would only change his main car after every 10 years.
“Yes, he loved cars. He used to have a Rolls Royce. But he no longer had it before he died. What he had was a Mercedes-Benz Maybach. His car garage was not packed full. Even though he was a car dealer, he changed his main car every 10 years.
“He was a very prudent man. At the beginning of his adult life, he had many cars; in the middle, he was prudent. It was at the end that he bought some flashy cars such as Lexus L600, MayBach 650 engine – at that time only he and ex-President Muhammadu Buhari had that car. He bought the car then because the family was preparing for three weddings. By time he died, the MayBach had only run 600 miles.”
The LSM chairman, according to him, started the auto business in the late 1970s as a car dealer with three vehicles.
He said he was so creditworthy that many were willing to release their vehicles to him on credit, adding that this helped the business to grow faster.
He recalled how he would travel to Ogbomosho, Oyo State, and Kaduna to buy cars and returned to Lagos with double the number he could readily paid for.
“Sometimes, he would travel as far as Kaduna to buy 12 cars from PAN, he would be the person driving the last vehicle while others were ahead driving all the way to Lagos,” he stated.
Before delving into automobile assembling, he also recalled that Daewoo and Rolls Royce were the two brands that gave the LSM a real breakthrough.
Auto
CNG conversion centres now 170, FG targets 200 Dec 31
CNG conversion centres now 170, FG targets 200 Dec 31
The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGI) on Wednesday announced that the CNG conversion centres in the country are now 170.
It was upbeat that the 170 CNG conversion centres in Nigeria would increase to 200 at the end of December 2024.
The centres hit 170 with the commissioning of Portland Gas Conversion centres in Kado, Abuja.
Speaking with reporters, the PCNGI Chief Executive, Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi, said the P-CNGI which has doubled its target for 2024, is hopeful of hitting 500 conversion centres next year.
His words: “Before the end of this year, I promise in the next two weeks, we will get to 200. We are already looking for and certifying at least an additional 35 to 40 on our record.
“I believe we will get to 40 at the end of this year. And that is double our target. You remember this time last year, I told you our target was 100 and now 200.
“Next year, we have set a target of 500 for us and I believe we will blow.”
He recalled that from the seven conversion centres of 2023, there are now 170 centres in Nigeria.
According to him, all the conversion centres are owned by private-sector investors.
“We went from seven conventional centres, that with these now, I easily would say we are around 170.
“So today, from seven to 170, there is not a single one of those that were built by the Federal Government of Nigeria,” he said.
He urged Portland Gas Limited to increase its working hours from 24 to the present 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the Portland Gas Limited, Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Folajimi Mohammed said the workshop which opens 12 hours daily, can convert a car within one hour.
READ ALSO:
- NAFDAC destroys N5bn fake, expired products in Aba
- Speaker Abbas to Tinubu: Your reforms have disrupted status quo
- Abuja demolition: Soldiers attack FCTA officials, seize vehicles
He said it is a full state-of-the-art centre, comprising the mechanical, electrical, calibration, and of course which cannot be done without gas.
He said: “So what we do here is a Turkey solution, where from the conversion part of it, you can make sure that when you leave here within an hour, thereabouts, you are able to make sure that you have a fully converted CNG car.
“And when I mean fully converted CNG car, I mean, it is still a hybrid. You can have the option to switch from petrol to gas where you want to.”
According to him, the tanks that are presently installed in the vehicles are durable for 20 years.
He said since the infrastructure is limited in the country, it is advisable to convert the vehicles in a manner they can use other fuels in addition to CNG.
Mohammed said, “We know the gas infrastructure is just about to improve. “Well, for now, what we have, the limited availability of the infrastructure, by making sure that you don’t do 100% conversion. I can always switch to petrol in the event of any emergencies.”
He said being methane, the gas is very safe as it is lighter than air.
Besides, Oluwagbemi said a free interstate transportation will be provided in the Federal Capital Territory between during the Yuletide.
According to him, six buses will be added to the fleet.
He said, “You know in Abuja today we have 16 buses running Gwagwalada to Keffi and Nyanya as well as in Nigeria that project is already ongoing and it will be expanded to interstate this week.
“We are going to put additional six buses to run interstate here in Abuja and neighbouring cities. We are just providing free transportation programme during the yuletide period.”
Speaking, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Suleiman Halilu recalled that the CNG journey started a long time ago.
He added that the CNG of Portland is a first of its kind in terms of partnership and private sector.
He said in the partnership, the government provides the policy, infrastructure, and intellectual property.
Auto
Coscharis, Toyota, Globe, Weststar, CFAO, others that win big at NAJA Auto Awards
Coscharis, Toyota, Globe, Weststar, CFAO, others that win big at NAJA Auto Awards
Globe Motors, Coscharis Motors, Toyota Nigeria, CFAO, Weststar Associates and Lanre Shittu (LSM) are among big winners at the 2024 NAJA (Nigerian Automotive Journalists Association) Auto Awards.
The prestigious event, which held on Wednesday December 11 at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos recognized various categories within the industry, ranging from vehicle innovation to service excellence.
As earlier announced Mikano Motors’ Changan CS55 beat Toyota Corolla and Kia Rio to win the coveted 2024 car-of-the-year prize.
Globe Motors emerged as the Most Resilient Company of the Year, while Coscharis Motors bagged the Multi-Luxury Brand of the Year along with the luxury SUV of the year with Range Rover Autobiography. Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) and MD/CEO of Lanre Shittu Motors (LSM) were honoured as Auto Company of the Decade and Auto Personality of the Year respectively.
Also, CFAO won the Outstanding After-Sale Service, Product Launches of the Year with the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and Suzuki Vitara, and the Most Enterprising Auto Company, while Chief Chidi Anyaegbu MFR (Founder, Chisco Motors) was recognized as the Transport icon of the Year; Mrs. Karima Okunola of Mikano Motors bagged the Auto Marketing Manager of the Year.
The companies were lauded for their commitment to providing quality vehicles and top-notch aftersales services, which have contributed to their solid reputation in the Nigerian auto market over the years.
Other notable winners included Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, which was celebrated for its pioneering role in local vehicle production; Nord took home CNG-powered mini bus brand, and A9 launch recognition.
Weststar’s Mercedes-Benz was declared luxury brand of the year and the S-Class won luxury car of the year.
Carloha with its handling of Chery was adjudged the most innovative company of the year, just as the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro launch received a recognition.
While Dangote Sinotruk won the heavy duty truck manufacturer of the year, Lanre Shittu’s JAC was again awarded the heavy duty truck of the year. Taiwo Shittu, MD of the LSM emerged Auto Personality of the Year. His later father and founder of the company received a posthumous award.
RT Briscoe bagged the workshop of the year award; Dana Motors’ Kia Sonet won the best compact SUV prize, and the mini bus assembler of the year went to Jet System.
In his speech, Chairman of NAJA, Mike Ochonma, said, “This year’s NAJA Auto Awards highlights not just the achievements of the big names in the industry, but also the rising stars who are shaping the future of Nigeria’s automotive landscape.”
-
metro3 days agoINTERPOL declares 14 Nigerians wanted for drug, human trafficking
-
Business3 days agoNNPCL launches production monitoring centre
-
metro2 days agoJigawa State governor loses son 24 hours after mother’s death
-
Business2 days agoBe creative, monarch, others challenge Muslim professionals on economic revival
-
metro3 days agoIbadan stampede: She was treated like a terrorist, Queen Naomi’s sister says about her condition
-
Entertainment1 day agoMultiChoice announces free access to all DSTV channels for 3 days
-
Auto21 hours agoLSM MD extols founder’s qualities after latter posthumous industry award
-
metro18 hours agoHeavy security in Ilesa as ex-Osun deputy gov emerges new Owa-Obokun