Hit by the COVID-19 last year, the automotive industry is looking for a brighter year to augment the shortfalls in production and sales. Many will be churning out new brands to woo auto lovers. Geely has already taken the lead by unveiling its locally assembled brands at Karameh City on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, reports TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

 

GEELY Motors is staging a comeback into the country following the launch of its locally assembled Emigrand 7 (EC7 Sedan) and X7 Sports (SUV).

The emerging auto brand will compete with other established brands for their share in the local market.

No doubt,  it is going to be a tough fight as  other auto firms will be coming out strong due to the uneventful outing last year due to the ravaging Coronavirus.

Coming under Mikano Motors, a subsidiary of Mikano International Limited, Geely said its auto brand is entirely different from the former Geely Cars Nigerians used to know.

At a test-drive held at the company’s new state-of-the-art assembly plant located at Karameh City, on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, Mikano Motors’ Sales Manager, Everistus Eze, described local assembly of Geely automobile brand as part of his company’s efforts towards boosting the nation’s economy via job creation.

This current Geely auto brand,” he said, “is a meeting point for the latest automobile technology and modern science. “

Mikano’s plan for locally assembled Geely automobiles started over two years ago.

Aside being a Chinese automotive brand that recorded top scores in European Car Assessment Programme (EuroNcap), Geely vehicles, via its acquisition of top European brands, including Volvo and Lotus , are produced in line with European standard.

Eze said: “Although Mikano has always been known as service provider in many aspects, including Power, Steel and Medical, our decision to invest in the automotive sector was motivated by our belief that Nigeria deserves a better transportation experience, rather than being a dumping area for second hand cars with no history, no warranty and no spare parts.

“Therefore, we chose to assemble and ultimately manufacture a top quality automotive brand to create jobs for the youths, help stimulate the nation’s economy and further support Nigerian families with most comfortable and affordable means of transportation.”

To ensure that its customers run their cars with peace of mind, the company has covered many parts of the country with various after sales service centres.

“Already, we have 3s (Showroom, service centre and Spare parts) and 2s (Showroom and service Centre). The centres are equipped with modern tools to ensure effective after-sales services to our customers.

“Through our appointed dealership across the country, Geely automobile brand’s spare parts are now available nationwide.  While we are still appointing more dealers to ensure that our parts are available to every location, we are making servicing parts available via various accredited channels to avoid the incident of fake parts,” he said.

Powered by 1.5-litre engine, the locally assembled Geely EC7 Sedan, comes with a load of safety features, some of which are Seatbelt reminder, Over speeding alarm device, anti-theft alarm device, hand brake unreleased reminder, (Anti-lock Brake System + Electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), Reversing visual system, Door child safety lock, Collision safety fuel cut system, Speed-sensitive automatic door locking system, Explosion-proof and leakproof plastic fuel tank, among others.

More than that, the car is equipped with Cruise control, Remote central locking, Keyless entry-driver side, Head restraints, Air conditioning system and infotainment.

While the Geely X7, a Crossover, is powered by a naturally-aspirated 2.4 litre engine, which puts out 150bhp at 5,300rpm and some 225Nm (Newton Meters)

Equipped with airbags, occupants of the car are also protected with ISOFIX child seat anchorage points, Door child safety lock, TPMS(Tire Pressure Monitoring System), Explosion-proof, leak proof plastic fuel tank, Speed-sensitive automatic door locking system, Anti-pinch function(all 4 windows) and Air filtration purification device.

The Geely X7 also comes with Internal light delay function, Panoramic sun roof, Cruise control, Remote central locking, Keyless entry, Mobile mapping Central screen, Bluetooth hands-free device, LCD Trim computer, Multi-function steering wheel (with entertainment +cruise switch), Anti-theft protection, Electronic control and alarm system, Active safety functions and  Reversing radar system.

Taking cognisance of affordability problem, which has trailed made-in-Nigeria vehicles over the years, Mikano, a company which employs over 2000 Nigerians, is already working out a friendly auto finance to take care of this challenge.

It is also putting together plans to roll out auto gas vehicles and electric cars as soon as the government creates the enabling environment, especially legal backing that would protect local assemblers against imported junks that are taking the chunks of the nation’s automotive market share.

“The Nigerian auto industry shall effectively compete in the entire African automobile market if the right policies are made by the government,” the Mikano Motors’ boss assured.

Geely has acquired Volvo 100 per cent, AG Daimler 10 per cent , Lotus Brand 50 per cent, Proton Brand 49 per cent, London Taxi 100 per cent AND Lynk & Co 100 per cent. With all these acquired technology, Geely has succeeded in taking her position as a global brand, coupled with its ability to acquire the highest global and future technologies in the automotive industry. Its sales exceeded 2.1 million cars, placing it among the world’s top car manufacturers.

Over the past 10 years, Geely has invested more than $14 billion in research and development (R&D), and plans to invest more in the next five years, in a commitment to providing the highest level of modern technologies in the industry.

Specifically, Geely Holdings, Daimler AG of Mercedes Benz and other Geely family brands have launched plans to collaborate on developing highly effective powertrain systems for next generation hybrid vehicle applications.

Tajudeen Adebanjo

 

THE Nigerian Automobile Manufacturers Association (NAMA) has said the planned tariff reduction on imported vehicles by the Federal Government is not in the interest of private investors and the country as at large.

Rather, NAMA challenged the government to revive the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) 2013 for the growth of the automobile industry in Nigeria, stressing that policy inconsistency was the bane of growth of the country.

NAMA’s Executive Director Mr. Remi Olaofe at the Capacity Training organised by Nigeria Automobile Journalists Association (NAJA), in Lagos, wondered why the Federal Government would reverse itself on a policy that was meant to reduce foreign exchange, create more jobs for qualified personnel and make the country less dependent on importation.

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The Federal Government had recently at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) announced the plan to reduce the import duties and levies on buses, tractors and other motor vehicles as contained in the recent 2020 Finance Bill.

The government had said it would reduce tariff on tractors from its present 35 per cent to 10 per cent; reduction of duties on motor vehicles for the transportation of goods from 35 per cent to 10 per cent; reduction of levy on motor vehicles for the transportation of persons from 35 per cent to five per cent.

Olaofe lamented that while Nigeria was still dilly-dallying on the implementation of NAIDP, the neighbouring West African country, Ghana, which he said “borrowed Nigeria’s automotive bill,” had turned its own into a law with automobile companies jostling to establish plants in that country.

He emphasised that the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) next year would further weaken the Nigerian economy as goods and products from Africa could come in without restrictions, lamenting that the country’s border was already porous.

He said: “It can’t be in the interest of this country to say to ourselves that the NAIDB bill 2013 is about to collapse. There is no single part of vehicles that is manufactured in this country. We used to produce tyres, they are no more here. We produced batteries in this country before, it has become  history. In Kaduna, we had a company assembling Peugeot vehicles, it is no more there. The assembling plants are not doing anything again.

“There is no economy in the world where you see vehicles manufacturing that you go from zero to a Complete Knock Down (CKD), there is a process. It is a driven process. Money is involved. Automotive policy is the best we have, but we want to destroy it.

“This is very scary. By next year, we are starting with the AfCFTA. What is going to be the hope of this country? Ghana borrowed the auto policy of Nigeria, Ghana has commenced implementation. I was in Rwanda last year to see its assembly plant, it is still this Semi Knock Down (SKD). The issue is that you cannot have an auto assembly without the market. We have got the market here.”

Also, Chairman, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited (IVM), Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman, in a recent interview with reporters had said that the reduction of the tariff would be a disincentive to investments, in addition to setting Nigeria’s automotive industry back by at least 10 years.

Chukwuma described the government’s plan as a “shocking decision,” stressing that it would lead to the forced closure of many auto plants.

Chukwuma had argued that a reduction in duties on imported vehicles would lead to massive importation of fully built-up vehicles, resulting in unfavourable competition that was likely to run the auto makers out of business.

He described the duty review as an embarrassing policy summersault, considering that the charges on imported vehicles were prescribed by the Automotive Policy to discourage the influx of fully built up products, and help to boost production by the domestic auto plants.

 

Tajudeen Adebanjo

 

THE auto industry is set to get a huge boost with the entry of fully Nigerian auto company, Nord brand of vehicles, cutting across passenger and commercial vehicles.

Nord Automobiles Limited last week launched five locally-assembled models and after-sales services across the country.

The launch was spearheaded by the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Oluwatobi Ajayi, at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The five Nord models unveiled are Nord Sedan A3; the Nord SUV A5; Nord Flit mini bus; Nord Max pick up; and Nord Tank pickup.

According to Ajayi, Nord was borne out of the need to check the importation of substandard vehicles into Nigeria, and to drastically reduce the huge amounts spent annually on automobile importation.

He stated that the fast-evolving  market has shown a strong demand for vehicles that are stylish, comfortable and have premium features, hence, Nord models have come to meet the demand.

With the launch of these vehicles, he added, “we aim to exceed expectations by offering our customers world standard products at very competitive prices.

“The Nord vehicles are designed for the discerning customer, who craves daily satisfaction and full automobile experience. They are a perfect combination of style, performance and fuel efficiency,” Ajayi said.

The exterior design of any Nord vehicle replicates class and luxury with a striking presence and bold looks to make sure that your car stands out anywhere you are.

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The popular Nord Tank has a led daylight running light and a four-wheel drive, the exteriors are powerful and elegant.

The interior design is rich and sophisticated and includes several features including a one-button drive function, Eco-drive system, touch screen infotainment, blue tooth, audio streaming, HDMI-in-slots, USB-in-slots. The interior is made with premium upholstery.

Nord vehicles are equipped with Antilock Braking System, Electronic Brake Distribution, dual front airbags, and with the highest safety rating by Euro NCAP and C-NCAP.

The vehicles have over six different colours variant to customise your car with, with options on the website to customise your vehicle giving it a personalised feel.

Delivery of the models would begin immediately, from dealers. The Nord vehicles would offer complete peace of mind with a free scheduled maintenance at three months or 5000km. Customers can opt for an extended after-sales plan for total peace of mind.

“Our goal is to be a global automotive company that designs and assembles premium vehicles at relatively competitive price while offering easy access to full ownership and superior after-sales service. We are an automobile company working to grow with the society and our customers,” Ajayi said.