Category: Motoring

A foremost automobile assembly plant in Nigeria, PAN Nigeria Limited, has dismissed reports that its Kaduna-based factory has been bought over.

The auto firm stressed that it is operationally doing well in its auto business as a separate entity from Dangote PAN.

A source at PAN Nigeria Limited said the Kaduna-based auto assembler has ceased to be assemblers of Peugeot vehicles in Nigeria and now evolved as a multi-brand assembler of reputable international brands.

PAN Nigeria, which incidentally will be marking the 50th Anniversary of its incorporation in Nigeria during the year, will be rolling out exciting new brands designed to meet the high expectations of its target market.

It was learnt that PAN had already signed deals with two leading Chinese companies, Chery Automobile and Higer Bus Company, which specialise in the production of passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

While Chery is a leading manufacturer of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) and Sedans, Higer is a reputable producer of mini and city buses. The assembly of multiple brands at the PAN plant, will increase capacity utilisation, create new jobs, and promote local content development.

A source from the plant said, “we have a wide range of exciting new products ranging from pickups, buses, sedans, SUVs, and ambulances which will be produced in our plant to serve needs of the important segments”. He also disclosed that the new products would be competitively priced, offering high value for money in the PAN Nigeria tradition.

Leading indigenous and integrated energy company, Ardova Plc has reiterated its commitment to upscale Enyo’s MechTech initiative to drive a more effective workforce among auto mechanics and technicians.

MechTech is part of Enyo’s Corporate Social Investment drive to bridge the skills gap and enhance the productivity of mechanics in the auto industry.

The programme is implemented in collaboration with Auto Medics Limited, an automobile repair and fleet maintenance workshop with support from the Motor Mechanics and Technicians Association of Nigeria (MOMTAN).

At the close of the programme, selected graduands are deployed to Vehicon, Enyo’s Auto care centres to enhance productivity and improve customer satisfaction.

Speaking at the third convocation of MechTech, Chief Executive Officer of Ardova Plc, Olumide Adeosun emphasised the company’s resolve to contribute to the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Goals through MechTech as a means for capacity building.

Head of Channels Abiba Muhammed expressed happiness about the class, hoping to have more female coming for the training.

Also, an alumnus of MechTech, Halima Adeyemi said: ‘‘MechTech has offered more knowledge and insight to providing solutions to automobile challenges. The programme was very engaging and has exposed me to a lot of approaches to auto repair. I continue to apply what I have learned from the programme and the results have been very effective.”

 

The most advanced Nissan Navara has arrived Nigerian showrooms, courtesy of  Stallion NMN Limited, the nation’s exclusive representative of Nissan brand.

Launched in Lagos, the new Navara pickup, which was also released to motoring journalists for a test-drive, delivers an enhanced level of safety, comfort and driving pleasure, while continuing to bring the durability, reliability, and versatility that it is known for.

Addressing newsmen at the launch, the General Manager, Stallion NMN Limited, Amit Sharma, said his company had concluded plans to start assembling the new Navara pick-up in Nigeria from June.

The Nissan NMN boss described the new Navara as a reliable partner for work or travel and a workhorse that comes with many best-in-class technologies, including an array of Nissan Intelligent Mobility features and safety systems, making it the most advanced Navara yet.

He said: “This new Navara brings the best of what Nissan has to offer in one package. Rugged, tough and smart, the pick-up offers premium comfort, all at a price that provides customers great value for money.

“This particular NAVARA is made in Africa for Africa. So it comes with a capability to withstand even the toughest tropical terrains of the continent, especially Nigeria.

“Building on more than 85 years of Nissan pickup heritage, the new Nissan Navara represents the pinnacle of the company’s experience in building tough and reliable pickups.

According to Sharma, Nissan is offering Nigerian market a comprehensive range, starting with double cabin 4×2. Further elevating the pickup’s rugged character is the introduction of the range topper PRO-4X grade – a first for the Navara nameplate.

“PRO-4X offers an even more impressive, eye-catching style to appeal to extreme adventure lovers who crave an escape from the daily routine,” he added.

Purpose built for Africa, boldly styled and technologically advanced, the NAVARA PRO-4X is loaded with technology and safety features to keep driver and passengers connected, safe and comfortable.

The Navara is powered by a 2.5L petrol engine that has proven reliable in the Sub-Saharan Africa driving conditions. The powertrain was chosen, as it meets the performance, economy and durability requirements for customers in this demanding segment. The engine is available with impressive power output 125KW, 244 Nm torque.

A strengthened rear axle and improved truck bed volume make the vehicle the ultimate worksite partner, ready to take on any challenges whilst still offering optimal room and comfort.

For pickup customers, one of the most essential qualities is payload.  And, from all indications Nissan’s engineers worked hard to increase it, delivering segment-leading capacity.

When in four-wheel drive mode, the Navara activates its Active Brake Limited Slip Differential system (ABLS), which manages power delivery and wheel braking between the front and rear axles and between the left and right of the vehicle, depending on traction and speed.

Navara is also equipped with Vehicle Dynamic Control system (VDC) and ABS brakes, which enables drivers to be more confident and feel secure when towing large payloads and driving through muddy terrain with less acceleration and brake operation.

An additional offering is the Hill Start-Assist and Hill Descent-Assist allows drivers to change pedals easily from brake to accelerator to carry out safer driving on hills.

Enhanced interior comfort

Inside, the new Navara features improved quietness, thanks to the increased amounts of sound deadening insulation, laminated windshield and front windows, further reducing the stress for both driver and passenger. Additionally, the cockpit is now more convenient and driver-orientated. This includes a new Nissan steering wheel and improved styling of the instrument panel highlighting the 8-inch navigation screen and a 7-inch higher resolution TFT screen.

The rear seats are now even more comfortable for passengers, with upgrades to the seat cushions and back shapes. For added convenience, passengers in the back can also now utilise the new rear armrest with built-in cup holders.

The new model returns with best-in-class technology through Nissan Intelligent Mobility, making it the most advanced Navara ever. These technologies create a 360-degree safety shield for the vehicle, helping  to protect the driver and passengers from potential risks and delivering peace of mind.

Adding to the pickup’s safety is Intelligent Around View Monitor (Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection), which uses four mounted cameras to help drivers notice people and cars surrounding and approaching the vehicle. This enables easier manoeuvring when performing tasks such as parallel parking and positioning of the vehicle during trailer hitching.

For the first time the system also features an off-road monitor, made to confirm surrounding obstacles at low speeds, when in four-wheel drive, empowering enthusiasts to take on the toughest terrains with confidence.

The pickup is now equipped with a new NissanConnect infotainment system, which allows customers to seamlessly connect their smartphone to the pickup and enable convenient features such as Bluetooth streaming audio, voice recognition and navigation.

With all these features, it’s clear the Navara is a capable, tough pickup that is ready to work. The decades of heritage Nissan has in its stead means this vehicle is the best Navara yet, with a safer, more comfortable and pleasurable drive.

“And what’s more, the new Navara, like all Nissan vehicles, is sold with extended peace of mind warrantees and guaranteed after-sales support from our dealerships located across the country,” Sharma said.

As part of its advocacy for service excellence and the continued improvement of its driver rewards programme, a leading mobility platform, Bolt has rewarded drivers on the platform with brand new cars in its recently concluded Bolt Driver’s League Challenge. The challenge, which launched last year and held for a 10-week period rewarded four winners in Nigeria with brand-new cars, as well as participation prizes for other participants.

The contest, which was divided into different categories, including a women’s league, a new driver’s league, and an existing driver’s league, was underway for 10 weeks. Drivers were given goals in form of finished rides and driver ratings which qualified them to win tokens towards a grand prize which was decided in a draw. The challenge recorded wide participation and saw Peter Nanman from Abuja emerge as the winner of the new driver’s league; Aisosa Uhunoma Ekhayeme from Benin won the women’s league, and Abdullateef Jimoh from Abuja topped the existing driver’s league. Eseosa Okunoyawe from Benin also received a brand-new car as the overall top driver in the country.

Congratulating the drivers, Bolt Country Manager, Femi Akin-Laguda, said: “Bolt recognises that drivers are fundamental to the continued growth of the Bolt brand in Nigeria and we do not take their commitment and efforts for granted. Through the Driver’s League challenge, our commitment to incentivising both existing and new drivers continues to be fulfilled as we appreciate their hard work and efforts during the year. We will continue to strive to retain the trust and loyalty of our drivers by fulfilling our promise which is to keep improving the overall experience for every driver.”

Okunoyawe thanked the Bolt team for their support over time.

“Since the day I registered with Bolt, it has been an awesome experience which has transformed my life positively. I just won a new car being the overall top Bolt driver in Nigeria. I want to encourage other Nigerians who are willing to drive and to join the Bolt platform.”

The contest was held across Nigeria and Ghana with four winners selected from each country, and three winners in South Africa.

The 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E is classified as an all-electric SUV, but in reality, it lies somewhere between sport utility vehicle (SUV) and wagon. It seats five people and is available in four trim levels: Select, Premium, California Route 1 and GT. Most offer different battery and electric motor configurations that further influence power outputs and the EPA-estimated range one can drive on a full battery charge.

The Mustang Mach-E is a handsome and sporty all-electric luxury SUV. While it’s not mechanically related to the standard Ford Mustang, it draws plenty of influence from Ford’s icon when it comes to design and feel. It’s not the fastest EV around, and there are others that offer more range. But we think it offers a great combination of both performance and range, especially when you add in the well-appointed cabin and excellent in-car tech. For 2022, Mach-E’s usable battery capacity has gone up slightly across all trims. The EPA rating hasn’t changed as of yet, but if we use last year’s model as a guide, it stands to reason that the 2022 Mach-E will likely have a better real-world range. Other notable changes this year include the addition of all-wheel drive to the California edition and the Ice White Appearance package for those who like a triple-white colour motif.

The Mach-E’s rivals are capable and plentiful. The Tesla Model Y is the most notable competitor, with nearly identical dimensions inside and out. The Y offers more EPA-estimated range than the Mach-E. And its interior design is boring compared to the Ford’s. Other luxuries EVs in this class include the Audi e-tron and Jaguar I-Pace, though one thinks the Mustang Mach-E is a better value than both of those models. All-electric sedans with similar pricing include the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2, but they can’t quite match Mach-E’s interior/cargo space.

With engaging driving performance, no tailpipe emissions and over-the-air software updates on a huge center touchscreen, the Mach-E drives and looks like a car of the future.

The Mach-E may be a wagon-like SUV, but it delivers the speed and agility auto lovers would expect of anything wearing a Mustang badge.

Ford tuned the handling dynamics to make even this all-wheel-drive SUV feel more like a rear-wheel-drive sports sedan. Around turns, it’s playful and engaging. Drivers will feel a lot of body movement in transitions, but it’s composed and stable.

In typical driving, the Mach-E delivers a buttery smooth experience. The regenerative braking effect works well and allows for one-pedal driving, which means you can slow down to a complete stop just by taking your foot off the accelerator. It is preferable doing this than using the brake pedal; it’s a little vague and grabby, making it hard to stop smoothly in typical driving. Ford can improve the tuning with a future over-the-air software update.

Highlights include a suspension that excels at soaking up large bumps in the road, a cabin that’s well insulated against wind and ambient noise, and an excellent and easy-to-use climate control system. The available seat and steering wheel heaters get toasty pretty quick, though we’d welcome the option of seat ventilation for warmer climates.

The seats are pretty comfortable, with padding that feels as soft and cushy as memory foam but breathes better. But the seats lack a few key adjustments, such as a lower thigh cushion extender for longer-legged drivers. There’s very little lateral support holding you in place. Unfortunately, seats with more adjustments are not available.

Ford’s latest Sync 4 infotainment system, specifically the one designed for Mach-E’s 15.5-inch central touchscreen, is one of the new favourites. Menus are easy to navigate, and there’s a handy shortcut bar that’s continually updated based on the last functions used. And unlike the Tesla Model Y, the Mach-E also has a 10.2-inch digital drive cluster that displays pertinent info that’s right in the driver’s line of sight.

The front seats don’t offer as many adjustments as drivers might find in a typical luxury sedan, but most drivers should be able to settle into a seating position they like. In back, there’s ample space for adults. Despite the Mach-E’s fastback roofline, visibility is surprisingly decent, and climbing into and out of the cabin takes little effort. The Mach-E’s push-button door releases are pretty cool and work well.

The Mach-E nails its interior tech with big 15.5-inch center touchscreen that’s supported by physical controls, such a volume knob. Unlike the Model Y, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is present and also wireless (though you can still connect through USB cord). Ford’s onboard navigation system is responsive and cleanly designed, but not so overly minimalistic like some competitor systems.

The Premium trim includes an excellent 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system that creates a rich sound environment, with access to AM/FM and XM satellite radio. It also included a comprehensive suite of advanced driver aids including adaptive cruise control, lane centering, blind-spot monitoring and 360-degree cameras. It was an early production prototype, so a few of the aids were unavailable.

The Mach-E’s hatch-style trunk helps maximise cargo space. Ford says there are 29 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats. That’s not as generous as the Model Y, especially underfloor. There is, however, a very clever flexible cargo cover that attaches to the rear hatch and swings up out of the way or can be removed . Adding to the Mach-E’s cargo capacity are the split rear seats that fold. The front trunk is a bit small but has a drain hole, allowing you to use it as an ice-filled cooler that can be drained later.

Upfront, a two-tiered console offers plenty of storage options for your personal items and makes the front cabin look more spacious. The side door pockets are a decent width but short on height. A wireless charging pad ahead of the cupholders looks like it will accommodate two phones, but it’s really only big enough for one.

The range estimate for an all-wheel-drive Mach-E with the extended-range battery is 270 miles with an efficiency of 37 kWh of battery power used per 100 miles. Both of those figures are average for a luxury EV.

Kia Nigeria, the leading automobile brand in the country, has partnered with Fixit45 to offer customers genuine spare parts and exceptional aftersales service.

The commitment to provide the very best aftersales service delivery and customer experience to thousands of customers nationwide is at the core of this partnership as both companies are raising the bar in offering Kia Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEMs) auto parts, quality repairs, and best-in-class service delivery to provide amazing value-added service to all Kia customers.

The shifting consumer interests and the need to meet their expectations with exceptional service delivery has propelled Kia Nigeria to extend its reach by signing a new partnership agreement with Fixit45 to continue to offer genuine spare parts and the delivery of cutting-edge services in the country. The partnership is aimed at keeping pace with consumers’ evolving wants and needs in order to remain competitive.

From inception, the vision of KIA Nigeria has been to bring world-class facilities closer to customers and offer quality service delivery that exceeds customers’ expectations. Hence, the partnership with Fixit45 is to further expand Kia’s market reach and ease of access to teeming customers in the country.

According to Sanjay Tatpati, Kia Nigeria Chief Operating Officer, “Customer-centricity is at the epicenter of everything we do at Kia and our partnership with Fixit45, is aimed at giving optimum value to customers to ensure that they have access to the value-oriented service and genuine spare parts. Our goal is to make quality Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEMs) auto parts accessible and affordable to our teeming customers to ensure they have an exceptional ownership experience with our Kia vehicles.”

Fixit45 Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder,  Justus Obaoye, said: “At Fixit45, we are firm believers in the power of mobility to not only enable socio-economic development and inspire ideas but also facilitate value-creating interactions that make society better. Convenience and curating a service experience that is best-in-class is what we are all about. This partnership is a testament to our collaborating ethos and our passion to move the automotive aftermarket industry forward. We are excited to have found a synergistic partner in Kia as we continue to drive and deliver quality services and automotive products to end-users. We share the same ideals of providing solutions that help people and organizations move and we are excited at the transformative opportunities that this relationship will produce.”

Speaking on the partnership, Kia Nigeria Marketing Manager Olawale Jimoh, said: “This joint venture with Fixit45 is an important step in our expansion plans for the Nigerian market. Finding the right partners to work with, in satisfying our customers is very vital to us. We are delighted to work with the experienced team of Fixit45 and are confident that our customers will be the ultimate beneficiaries of this relationship.”

Abdulazeez Ogunjobi, co-founder & CTO, Fixit45: “Technology helps us to disrupt a segment that has largely been based on brick-and-mortar operations. Our robust end-to-end ecosystem platform empowers us to cater to a diverse range of needs in the aftermarket industry. We are looking to drive a significant shift and help more vendors and customers to come online to enjoy convenience, quality, and affordable products and services via this partnership with Kia Nigeria.”

Tesla has announced that it is going to increase the price of its Full Self-Driving package to $12,000. The price bump should coincide with the release of an important new update.

The Price of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) package has been somewhat controversial.

Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has made Tesla’s pricing strategy clear when it comes to FSD: Tesla is going to increase the price of the package as it introduces new features. But, since the package doesn’t actually do what the name says (which is for the vehicle to fully drive itself), people have criticised Tesla for increasing the price, which gradually went up to $10,000.

The automaker has refrained from increasing the price since launching the Full Self-Driving Beta programme in October of last year, but now Musk has announced that Tesla has increased the price to $12,000 on January 17.

That’s despite most people buying the package not getting any more features and most drivers not having access to the FSD Beta.

Speaking of the FSD Beta, Musk also said that a new update (10.9) should be coming next week around the same time as the price increase and another bigger update will come “probably next month”.

The price increase is only in the United States, which is also the only market where the FSD Beta is available to people who have a “driver safety score” of over 97.

Last year, Tesla also launched its FSD subscription service at $199 monthly. It’s likely to also see an increase in price since Tesla says that it wants the one-time purchase to be the best economic option.

As we previously reported, Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) is an early version of Tesla’s self-driving software that is currently being tested by a fleet of Tesla owners selected by the company through its “safety test score.” The software enables the vehicle to drive autonomously to a destination entered in the car’s navigation system, but the driver needs to remain vigilant and ready to take control at all times. Since the responsibility lies with the driver and not Tesla’s system, it is still considered a level-two driver-assist system despite its name. It has been sort of a two steps forward, one step back type of programme, as some updates have seen regressions in terms of the driving capabilities.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has described 2021 as a phenomenal year.

The auto giant said it delivered more cars than at any time in the marque’s 117-year history with unprecedented demand for all products in every global market.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Chief Executive Officer Torsten Müller-Ötvös, said: “Our extremely strong product portfolio, an exceptional Bespoke offering, together with the first full year of availability of Ghost, the launch of Black Badge Ghost in October and the continuing record demand for Bespoke personalisation, has contributed meaningfully to our extremely strong performance. This is hugely encouraging as we prepare for the historic launch of Spectre, our first all-electric car. Building on this year’s success, we will continue to evolve as a true luxury brand, beyond the realms of automotive manufacturing.”

In 2021, Müller-Ötvös said, the company delivered 5,586 motor cars to clients around the world, up 49 per cent on the same period in 2020. This overall figure includes all-time record sales in most regions, including Greater China, the Americas and Asia-Pacific, and in multiple countries across the globe.

All Rolls-Royce models performed extremely strongly. Growth has been driven principally by Ghost, with demand surging further, following the launch of Black Badge Ghost in October 2021. This, together with the continuing pre-eminence of Cullinan and the marque’s pinnacle product, Phantom, has ensured order books are full well into the third quarter of 2022.

The company’s Provenance (pre-owned) programme also enjoyed exceptional sales results in 2021, achieving an all-time record.

Bespoke commissions remain at record levels, with magnificent individual examples including the spectacular Phantom Oribe co-created with Hermès, alongside the Phantom Tempus, and Black Badge Wraith and Black Badge Dawn Landspeed Collection cars. The company signalled its commitment to leading a new contemporary coachbuilding movement with Rolls Royce Coachbuild becoming a permanent fixture in its future portfolio, and with it the unveiling of its latest coachbuilt masterpiece, Boat Tail.

Rolls-Royce also announced its first all-electric car, Spectre, during 2021.  The extraordinary undertaking of bringing Spectre to market by the fourth quarter of 2023 has now begun, and the most punishing testing protocol ever conceived for a Rolls Royce is underway. This 2.5 million-kilometre journey, which extends to all four corners of the world, will simulate more than 400 years of use for a Rolls Royce.

While preparations are made for the marque’s all-electric future, Rolls-Royce continues to meet the surge in demand for its current portfolio through a flexible manufacturing process and the dedication of the over 2,000 people who work at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex and around the world.  The Rolls-Royce factory at Goodwood is currently running at near-maximum capacity, on a two-shift pattern to fulfil orders from clients around the world.

Rolls-Royce will continue to invest in its manufacturing plant in readiness for electrification, and in future talent, with a record 37 new apprentices set to join the company in September 2022.

Reflecting on the results, Müller-Ötvös said: “This has been a truly historic year for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. In the past 12 months, we have recorded our highest-ever annual sales, launched the latest addition to our Black Badge family, stunned the world with our coachbuilding capabilities and made huge strides into our all-electric future.

“As always, it has been made possible by the dedication and commitment of the extraordinary people at the Home of Rolls-Royce, our international team and our global dealer network. I wish to extend my thanks and congratulations to each and every one of them: it is my privilege and pleasure to work alongside them every day.”

Tesla is recalling nearly 500,000 cars in the United States due to technical troubles that could heighten the risk of a crash.

The electric-vehicle maker plans to recall 356,309 Model 3 vehicles made between 2017 and 2020 because the rear-view camera cable harnesses could be damaged from opening and shutting the trunk, Tesla told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The glitch could keep the rearview camera image from displaying, the company said.

Tesla is also recalling up to 119,009 Model S cars made since 2014 due to a defective front-trunk latch that could have the hood popping up unexpectedly and obstruct the driver’s view, according to another statement to the NHTSA.

Both issues increase the chances of an accident. Tesla will inspect the recalled cars and make any needed repairs at no cost to owners.

The NHTSA last week announced Tesla owners would no longer be able to play video games on a Tesla console while their vehicles are moving. The federal auto-safety regulator said Tesla would send a software update so the function called “Passenger Play” would lock and not work when the vehicles are in motion.

The announcement came a day after the agency said it would open an investigation into concerns about Tesla’s video games distracting drivers.

Separately, the government last August announced it has opened a formal investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot system after a series of collisions with parked emergency vehicles.

Hyundai is shutting down engine development in a bid to kill off gas cars.

The Korean company made the announcement that the end of the internal combustion engine is nigh.

Hyundai has joined to a growing list of automakers, including Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, General Motors and VW Group, that are shutting down development of internal combustion engines. The company announced they too, are shifting their focus to an all-electric future.

The Korean company has been developing ICE engines to use in its lineup of cars for 40 years.

The Korean Economic Daily is reporting Hyundai’s new research and development chief confirmed in an email to employees they are shutting down new engine development. He called the move “inevitable.”

“Our own engine development is a great achievement, but we must change the system to create future innovation based on the great asset from the past,” Park Chung-kook, Hyundai’s R&D Chief wrote.

He also said the immediate task should be to develop vehicles that can “dominate” the future market.

“This reorganisation will be an important starting point for change ahead in the new year,” Chung-kook said.

In the past, Hyundai had remained quiet about a commitment to fully electric vehicles. The automaker is still heavily invested in hydrogen fuel cells, but it’s beginning to find success in the electric market with the release of the Ioniq 5.

The company is expected to launch a full lineup of Ioniq battery-electric vehicles as Hyundai continues to invest in the technology.

This doesn’t mean the internal combustion engine is going away anytime soon. Currently, electric vehicles have a mark share of less than four percent in 2020. That number is expected to continue to grow every year and be between 40 and 50 percent by 2030. However, this does show that the times may indeed be changing.