Barring any last minute disruption, first set of Nigeria-assembled Toyota cars will be rolled out before the end of 2017. The Chairman, Toyota Nigeria Limited, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo gave the encouraging news at the unveiling of an automobile assembling plant dedicated to the production of two vehicle brands, Toyota and JAC. The assembly is coming with a target of 15,000 vehicles yearly.
Elizade Autoland Limited, a subsidiary of Elizade Nigeria Limited, owned by Ade-Ojo, has the franchise for the JAC brand of vehicles.
Ade-Ojo noted that “The semi-knocked down parts have yet to come; but in a few months’ time, they’ll arrive here in Lagos and we’ll invite guests to come and be part of history, to witness the unveiling of locally-assembled Toyota cars”.
Already, JAC division has produced its first set of 10 vehicles.
The Managing Director of Elizade Nigeria, Mr. Demola Ade-Ojo, the plan is to produce 20 JAC vehicles every month, adding that it was starting with the SKD stage and hoped to move to the completely-knocked down section when sufficient components could be sourced locally.
Currently the plant is operating on a single shift, was said to have been certified by the Federal Government to build different brands of cars.
Explaining the advantage coming to the new plants considering the prevailing Auto policy, the Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council, Mr. Aminu Jalal said more companies will queue in rolling out Nigeria assembled cars between this year and next.
