DEALERS SHUN USA- MADE VEHICLES

Dealers of fairly -used vehicles are gradually losing interests in the sale of American automobiles, even as they are blaming their stance on the high cost and usually non- availability of spare parts.
A large number of dealers in Lagos have very few American automobiles in their shops compared to vehicles from Europe and Asia. Vehicles like Ford, Chrysler, Chevrolet and GMC are some of the few automobiles that are found in some auto shops, but there has been a steady decline of the American automobile in the fairly used market.

Dealers of fairly -used vehicles are gradually losing interests in the sale of American automobiles, even as they are blaming their stance on the high cost and usually non- availability of spare parts.
A large number of dealers in Lagos have very few American automobiles in their shops compared to vehicles from Europe and Asia. Vehicles like Ford, Chrysler, Chevrolet and GMC are some of the few automobiles that are found in some auto shops, but there has been a steady decline of the American automobile in the fairly used market.
Speaking with some auto and spare part dealers in Lagos, different opinion was gathered from them as parts of the investigation on the decline of American vehicles in the market. Some expressed high maintenance cost on the part of the buyer, others added that the parts are very expensive and it is not gas friendly compared to Asia vehicles.
Mr.Ndubueze Azuma told Auto Port Weekly that since he has been in the business, American vehicles have never been in high demand for various reasons. Demonstrating a vivid background knowledge of automobile customers in Nigeria, the dealer said both the new and Tokunboh vehicles owned by Americans are good for other countries of the world, but in Nigeria, the reverse is the case.
He lamented that American vehicle spare parts are very difficult to come by. According to him, American brands of vehicles are not available at the major places where spare parts are sold in Nigeria, and the demand for these spares is not there.
Caleb Eburu, a trader at the Trinity market in Olodi Apapa in Lagos, said the major market where Tokunboh spare are sold are Ladipo market in Mushin, Ojuelegba spare part markets in Surulere, Alaba International in Ojo and the Trinity market. Caleb said in the aforementioned places, it is difficult to get American vehicles spares, adding that in every 10 shops in the various markets; only one shop may have American vehicles spare parts.
Another spare part dealer who identifies himself as Eze John also gave a similar opinion, saying that there is low demand for made-in-America vehicles by Nigerian who wants to buy vehicles. He said the citizens of the country want to buy what they can afford to maintain at little or no cost. Eze said American brand of automobiles are not meant for the average Nigerian who wishes to use a small car and that Japanese vehicles and spare parts are most sought after  by Nigerians.