Nigeria’s automotive industry is gearing up for another round of competition as manufacturers, vehicle distributors, assemblers and after-sales service providers begin the race for top honours at the 19th  Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) International Auto Awards scheduled for December 3, 2026, in Lagos.

The awards, which will hold at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, are expected to spotlight performance across the automotive value chain, with the Car of the Year category likely to attract particular attention from brands seeking to strengthen their market positions.

The opening of nominations comes at a time when the industry is contending with changing consumer preferences, rising competition from emerging vehicle brands, renewed interest in local assembly and the gradual adoption of alternative-energy vehicles, including electric vehicles (EVs) and compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered automobiles.

Beyond passenger vehicles, the awards will recognise achievements in commercial vehicle manufacturing, truck assembly, automotive distribution, workshop operations, spare parts supply, after-sales services and individual contributions to sector development.

Chairman of the 2026 NAJA Awards Planning Committee, Frank Kintum, said the committee was working towards delivering a ceremony that reflects the growing significance of the automotive industry to Nigeria’s economy.

He described the awards as a platform for recognising brands, organisations and individuals whose activities have contributed to the development of the sector.

Kintum said the 19th edition would be bigger than previous ceremonies while maintaining the credibility and professional standards associated with the awards.

According to the organisers, entries will be assessed under the association’s approved award modalities, with winners determined through the established evaluation process.

NAJA Chairman, Theodore Opara, said the awards were designed not only to celebrate leading market players but also to recognise organisations and individuals demonstrating measurable excellence across the automotive ecosystem.

He noted that the credibility of the assessment process had strengthened the awards’ relevance to manufacturers, distributors, service providers and other stakeholders.

The Car of the Year category is expected to be particularly competitive as established brands face increasing pressure from newer entrants offering different vehicle designs, technologies, features and price points to Nigerian consumers.

For manufacturers and distributors, the recognition could provide additional visibility in a market where affordability, maintenance costs, spare parts availability, fuel efficiency and resale value remain important considerations for buyers.

The outcome of the 2025 edition offers an indication of the competition likely to shape this year’s contest.

At the 18th NAJA International Auto Awards, held on December 16, 2025, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, the Jetour Dashing emerged as Car of the Year, beating the Changan CS55 and Chery Tiggo.

The result highlighted the growing contest among crossover and sport utility vehicle (SUV) brands for a greater share of Nigeria’s vehicle market.

Mikano Motors won Auto Company of the Year, while its Changan CS55 secured the Midsize SUV of the Year award.

Toyota Nigeria’s Isolo facility won Workshop of the Year, while the Toyota Hilux and Toyota Hiace were named Pick-Up of the Year and Minibus of the Year, respectively.

In the commercial vehicle segment, Dangote Sinotruk emerged Heavy-Duty Truck Brand of the Year, while Iron Products Industries Limited won Truck Assembler/Body Builder of the Year. Lanre Shittu Motors received the Truck Plant of the Year award.

Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing was recognised as Passenger Car Assembly Plant of the Year, highlighting the role of local assembly in the development of Nigeria’s automotive industry.

Alternative-energy mobility also featured prominently, with SAGLEV winning EV Brand of the Year and Jet Automobiles emerging CNG Vehicle Assembler of the Year. NORD Automobiles was named Fastest Growing Auto Brand of the Year.

The awards further recognised businesses supporting vehicle ownership and maintenance. Carloha Nigeria won Auto Aftersales Company of the Year and Pre-owned Company of the Year, while Winpart by CFAO secured Auto Aftersales Service Provider of the Year for parts and workshop services.

Individual honours went to NORD Automobiles Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Oluwatobi Ajayi, who was named Auto Personality of the Year in the private-sector category. The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Joseph Osanipin, received the public-sector award.

The spread of winners demonstrated the awards’ coverage of the wider automotive value chain, extending from vehicle sales and assembly to commercial transportation, alternative-energy mobility and after-sales support.

Industry expectations rise
The 2026 edition comes amid ongoing efforts to expand local vehicle assembly, improve automotive standards and encourage the adoption of cleaner transportation technologies.

However, industry operators continue to face challenges associated with vehicle affordability, foreign exchange exposure, import costs, access to financing and the availability of reliable after-sales services.

These pressures have increased the importance of product differentiation and customer support as automotive brands compete for buyers whose purchasing decisions are increasingly influenced by the total cost of vehicle ownership.

For local assemblers, industry recognition could also provide an opportunity to showcase production capacity and reinforce their contribution to the development of domestic automotive manufacturing.

Similarly, awards for workshops, spare parts distributors and after-sales service providers could draw attention to a segment that remains critical to vehicle reliability, roadworthiness and customer confidence.

As nominations progress, the competition is expected to reflect the changing structure of Nigeria’s automotive market, where established manufacturers are competing with emerging brands while businesses explore opportunities in electric mobility, CNG conversion and locally assembled vehicles.

The organisers have called on automotive brands and other stakeholders to participate in the nomination process ahead of the December 3 ceremony.

With last year’s winners setting a benchmark across several categories, attention will now shift to the companies, vehicles and industry personalities that will emerge at the 19th NAJA International Auto Awards.