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Isuzu to begin vehicle assembling in Nigeria by Q2 2016

By Kingsley Jeremiah
13 November 2015   |   12:42 am
KONCEPT Autocentre Limited, authorised dealer of Isuzu vehicles in Nigeria has stated that it will commence assemblage of the brand in Nigeria from second quarter of next year.

IsuzuKONCEPT Autocentre Limited, authorised dealer of Isuzu vehicles in Nigeria has stated that it will commence assemblage of the brand in Nigeria from second quarter of next year.

With an initial arrangement to roll out light trucks, Isuzu said that the organisation was confident that Federal Government’s automotive policy, which is targeting to make Nigeria Africa’s automobile hub in the near future would yield positive results.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos to unveil the plan, Director of Koncept Autocentre, Victor Eborajolo, said that the new plant which is located at the firm’s premises in Lagos, is undergoing rapid development and currently at the final stage of the completion of the assembly lines.

We have the license from the Nigerian Automotive Development and Design. We have finalised the models and logistics to process and the assembly construction is going on at the moment.

There is a lot of write up in the paper about this policy. Those who are benefiting from and not assembling are spending money getting publications in the papers insinuating that the policy will not work but we are not deterred. We are confident that the policy will work. We have very close relationship with the National Automotive Council and we have close relationship with those down the line that are involved in this policy and we are encouraged by the present government”, he stated.

Speaking about the quality of what will be rolled out from the plant, Eborajolo said: “When we start to assemble, I want to assure that the quality will remain the same. Isuzu has said one of their main businesses is to ensure that the quality of what we produce in Nigeria meets international standard.

As a revered Japanese brand, we have to follow due processes and standards before the Isuzu brand would be approved for operation of the plant,” he added, noting that the company would make sure that everything in the plant follow International standard.

Meanwhile the leader of the Japanese team from Isuzu Keisuke Shimoyama expressed confidence in their partnership with Koncept Autocentre, describing Nigeria as a very important market to Isuzu.

The General Manager, Koncept Autocentre, Gaurav Kaul said he was satisfied with the growth of Isuzu in Nigeria in the last one year, saying that the organisation has captured about seven per cent of the light truck market share in Nigeria despite the challenges in the sector.

According to him, Isuzu has come to stay in Nigeria, just like the Kewalram Chanrai Group (Owners of Koncept Autocentre) which has been in Nigeria for more than 110 years.
“Isuzu is doing well considering the challenges in the country presently. There has been massive increase of Isuzu trucks on Nigerian roads,” he said, adding that when the plant becomes operational in Nigeria, there will be possibility of exporting the vehicles outside the country”, Kaul said.

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