…But Dealers Apprehensive About Sustainability

Automobile dealers have allayed fears about the sustainability of manufacturing and assembly of made-in-Nigeria vehicles by automakers; Stallion Group that rolled out Hyundai and Nissan brands recently in the country.

The dealers decried the fact that most of vehicles rolled out by the company may not withstand continuous production because Nigerians are yet to be convinced about its durability.

Apart from that, they alleged that 90% of materials used in the production of the brands are imported; noting that local content in car manufacturing in Nigeria remains a big problem to all assembly plants.

According to them, assembly of vehicles in Nigeria is yet unacceptable by the Nigerian public following the issues surrounding the automobile policy, poor states of the roads and most especially the standard of the vehicles.

Lagos-based importers of fairly used vehicle also recalled the position of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) over made- in-Nigeria brands that are yet to be certified.

Stephen Uzonuoma; an Ikeja based automobile dealers stressed that for the government to monitor the activities of the car companies, it will have to invest in the sector.

The dealer noted that the auto plant investors are not being sincere to the government because according to him, "how can they make profit at this point in time when they are producing as if they are test-running their brands".

On his part , the chairman, Car Distributors Association ; Mr. Caleb Eburuche opined that the investors in car assemblies should convince Nigerians by producing in large quantity.

Eburuche alleged that some vehicles are imported from overseas, but the investors claim that the vehicles are assembled locally.

Speaking further, the automobile dealer expressed skepticism that the various companies will not be able to produce vehicles in millions in a year.