Toyota Nigeria Limited has recorded a breakthrough
with the unveiling of its first locally-assembled vehicle
in Lagos, a Hiace bus.
This is coming about two and a half years after the
announcement of the Automotive Industry Development
Plan by the Federal Government, which raised the
import duty on cars from 22 per cent to 70 per cent in
order to discourage vehicle importation.
Toyota Nigeria last year hinted of its plan to establish a
vehicle assembly plant in the country to join Nissan,
Ford, Kia, Peugeot and a host of other auto firms
already assembling vehicles locally.
The Managing Director, Toyota Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Ade-
Ojo, said the new Hiace was assembled in the company’s
plant in Lagos, built with 30,000-unit production
capacity every year.
According to him, the plant’s
facility comprising two
lines is expected to assemble mini buses, pickups and
other light commercial vehicles.
The Hiace, he said, was assembled as a test case,
adding that the organisation would soon begin its mass
production.
Ade-Ojo said, “We need to introduce some changes to
the plant so as to achieve efficiency in the operations.
With the current economic situation, we are looking at
starting the mass production in a couple of months.
“We are constantly training technicians and as far as
the plant is concerned, we are assuring customers that
we will continuously improve the assembling process of
our vehicles to ensure that the vehicles meet
international standards.”
The plant, which occupies a 40,000 square metre of land,
was built to handle different models.
Ade-Ojo said as soon as the mass production of vehicles
commenced, there would be competitive prices for its
products.
According to him, no automobile company is
manufacturing any vehicle in Nigeria, stressing, “What
everybody does is to assemble the parts. The parts are
shipped in from overseas.”
with the unveiling of its first locally-assembled vehicle
in Lagos, a Hiace bus.
This is coming about two and a half years after the
announcement of the Automotive Industry Development
Plan by the Federal Government, which raised the
import duty on cars from 22 per cent to 70 per cent in
order to discourage vehicle importation.
Toyota Nigeria last year hinted of its plan to establish a
vehicle assembly plant in the country to join Nissan,
Ford, Kia, Peugeot and a host of other auto firms
already assembling vehicles locally.
The Managing Director, Toyota Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Ade-
Ojo, said the new Hiace was assembled in the company’s
plant in Lagos, built with 30,000-unit production
capacity every year.
According to him, the plant’s
facility comprising two
lines is expected to assemble mini buses, pickups and
other light commercial vehicles.
The Hiace, he said, was assembled as a test case,
adding that the organisation would soon begin its mass
production.
Ade-Ojo said, “We need to introduce some changes to
the plant so as to achieve efficiency in the operations.
With the current economic situation, we are looking at
starting the mass production in a couple of months.
“We are constantly training technicians and as far as
the plant is concerned, we are assuring customers that
we will continuously improve the assembling process of
our vehicles to ensure that the vehicles meet
international standards.”
The plant, which occupies a 40,000 square metre of land,
was built to handle different models.
Ade-Ojo said as soon as the mass production of vehicles
commenced, there would be competitive prices for its
products.
According to him, no automobile company is
manufacturing any vehicle in Nigeria, stressing, “What
everybody does is to assemble the parts. The parts are
shipped in from overseas.”
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