Several issues are at stake this year in the Nigerian automobile industry as the race for the car-of-the-year gets underway.
The organisers of the annual event, Naja, may have taken the auto industry by surprise as it indicates its preparedness to go ahead with the event despite the recession, which has hit the nation’s economy and shattered the sale projections made by several automakers/dealers for the year.
Auto reviewers and other stakeholders say they anxiously await what they dub a ‘recession car’ at a time many have either suspended their decision to buy new vehicles or cut down on the number they usually purchase to replace or rejuvenate their old fleet of vehicles.
Before the economic recession set in, Nigeria was expected to begin to make progress in the assembly of automobiles in the first quarter of 2016 with the promise by the Federal Government to support the establishment of flexible auto finance schemes. This was to facilitate the purchase of new vehicles being assembled locally.
Experts say selecting the car of the year will be a hard nut for both the organisers of the annual event and other new car enthusiasts that will participate in the process this year through an online poll.
Already, the competition has been narrowed down to three brands (Toyota, Peugeot and Nissan), which have consistently dominated the auto sales for many years along with Kia in terms of volume.
Specifically, Naja has shortlisted Toyota Corolla, Peugeot 301 and Nissan Almera for the 2016 edition of car-of-the-year contest.
Kia Rio emerged the winner last year in a keenly contested competition, which included Toyota Corolla and Peugeot 301 mainly because it reportedly topped the new car sales’ chart.
Although Toyota Corolla had for many years won the coveted award before it was displaced last year by Kia Rio, this, however, does not in any way suggest that the Corolla is favoured to get it this year, according to Naja.
Factors such as the cost of the vehicle, units sold, features and maintenance cost, it says, will determine largely where the pendulum will swing.
Besides, the car-of-the-year’s organisers say the winner will be needed to receive the highest number of votes from the online poll and a panel of judges mainly made up of motoring journalists/editors.
It is also interesting to note that two of the shortlisted vehicle models, the Nissan Almera and Peugeot 301, are currently being assembled in Nigeria by Nissan Nigeria/Stallion Auto partnership and Pan Nigeria, respectively.
The Corolla has yet to join the number of vehicles being rolled out of the Toyota assembly plant recently set up in Nigeria by Toyota Nigeria Limited.
The Corolla, a compact car introduced by Toyota Motor Corporation in 1966, has been one of the best-selling cars worldwide, including Nigeria, since 1974.
Toyota has over the years received a lot of accolades for producing vehicles with almost unrivalled fuel economy, with the Corolla standing out in this area.
According to an online auto reviewer, Car and Driver, the 2016 edition also has a lot of rear legroom; the infotainment interface has user-friendly controls and pleasant ride quality on the highway and in the city.
It says, “A 1.8-litre four-cylinder makes 132 hp-140 hp in the LE Eco model-and drives the front wheels through a six-speed manual or a CVT. A 6.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth is standard but can be upgraded to a 7.0-inch unit with navigation.
“All Corollas get modern technology such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and automated emergency braking.”
The TNL says the Corolla has done well and remained one its highest selling models over the years, including this year.
The Peugeot 301 is also a compact car, produced by the French automaker Peugeot and unveiled in 2012 at the Paris Motor Show.
It is no surprise that the 301 is a popular model in Nigeria as one of the reliable vehicles coming from a Kaduna-based auto assembly plant, Pan Nigeria.
Pan has kept no one in doubt about its intention to make one of its products, maybe the 301, a truly first Nigerian car.
Powered by a range of three engines including a three-cylinder 1.2-litre VTi petrol engine; a 1.6 VTi petrol engine and a 1.6 HDi diesel engine, the Peugeot 301 is described by Pan as a silent power horse that can deliver all the ruggedness of the former Peugeot 504.
Available in three trims – Access, Active and Allure – the Peugeot 301 comes in two engine variants including 1.2 and 1.6 litre power plants.
The 1.2 litre engine comes standard with manual transmission, while the 1.6 litre engine version is equipped with automatic transmission.
Taking into consideration the tropical weather, Pan says it has ensured that all versions of the 301 come with factory-fitted air conditioning system, adding that the Allure version is equipped with electronic system.
“When it comes to ground clearance, the car is not a push over as ample ground clearance is provided so it can dominate all terrain, be it smooth or rough. Coming with a 15 inch alloy rim, and reinforced suspension, it fits perfectly on the Nigerian roads,” it states.
The Nissan Almera is also a compact car, now substantially refreshed to make it a family’s first car of choice.
According a report by Wikipedia.org, the first Nissan Almera rolled off the production line in 1995 as a replacement for the Nissan Sunny, a nameplate which had been in use for nearly 30 years.
An online auto journal, Car Guide, says its entry-level model is powered by a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine with continuous variable timing technology. “This engine develops 79 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 106 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm. The other models are powered by the 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine boasting 99 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 134 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm.”
Nissan like Peugeot also hopes to position one of its products, especially the Almera as a Nigerian car, having become the first indigenous plant to assemble vehicles locally, with the production of Nissan Patrol 4×4, NP 300 and Almera.
Nissan is the first original equipment manufacturer to take advantage of the Federal Government’s automotive policy in 2014, aimed at attracting investment.
