Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company (IVM) has said that for the 11days that the 2nd Nnewi International Auto Trade Fair lasted, its stand ceaselessly received inquisitive and excited visitors, who were attracted to its range of automobiles staging their very first public outing since news filtered out that the company was building “truly made-in-Nigeria vehicles”.
The company said it was a befitting debut for the vehicles as guest after guest, including the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Humphrey Enemakwu Abah, Anambra Deputy Governor, Dame Virgy Etiaba, Ikechukwu Obiora, C.I.D. Maduabum, Igwe Keneth Orizu, the Director General of the National Automotive Council, Dr. Aminu Jalal, and the Director-General of Consumer Protection Council, commended the quality of the new products.
Innoson said it displayed about eight vehicles at the Beverly Hills Hotel/Gabros International Stadium venue of the fair. The vehicles, it said included a luxury bus, two midi buses, two mini buses, two pick-ups and a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), all of which were fully air-conditioned with fine interior execution.
It explained that the 39-seater (37+1+1) inter-city bus has a six-gear transmission, a tank with capacity to take 245 litres of diesel and high fidelity music system featuring CD/DVD players sand radio, adding that the bus earned for itself a lot of inquiries with some of the visitors insisting on driving it home from the venue preparatory to deploying it to the Lagos route.
The company said the midi buses, which are fondly called Mini Luxury at the stand, like the bigger sibling, have leather seats (26 in all), and are driven by a powerful engine and a five-speed manual gear.
It also explained that the double cabin pick-up with model number 1021A3 run eon petrol with a five-speed transmission system, while the interior is air-conditioned to enhance occupants comfort with a provision for radio/cassette sound system, while the 14-seater mini buses also have radio/cassette player.
The company said the only (midi size) SUV in the range, which is christened Explore II, is configured to seat five passengers, but the arrangement could be altered to take as many as five without compromising comfort and has a fuel tank capacity of 70 litres of petrol.
Welcoming both the Minister of State Commerce and Industry and the Anambra Deputy Governor into the ambience of the luxury bus, during a tour of the Innoson stand, the Chairman /Chief Executive Officer of the Innoson Group of Companies, Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma, informed the guests that the vehicles were truly Nigerian products, because aside the engine, chassis and some basic components, most of the parts were sourced locally and the vehicles built in Nnewi by Innoson.
He said, for instance, the body components were fabricated and stamped by Innoson, while a substantial level of the local content was sourced from among the many automotive parts companies in Nnewi.
Impressed with what they saw and in appreciation of the efforts of the industrialist and businessman, both Abah and Etiaba poured commendations on him.
“I am happy to hear that most of the parts are made in Nigeria. I want to urge all Nigerians and government institutions and others to patronize made-in-Nigeria, especially products like these,” the Minister said.
Shuffling his legs as he spoke, the Minister particularly commended the ample leg room between each row of seats, which is a very important factor considered by many a traveler in choosing the buses to board for long distance trips. He advised Chukwuma not to limit the scope of his market to Nigeria, but also target the ECOWAS countries, because the vehicles has what it takes to do well in the international market.
Earlier while responding to remarks by the Nnewi Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Abah had congratulated Innoson for “the wonderful feat” of producing the vehicles in Nnewi.
He said: “In the past, only government could set up an assembly plant. For an industrialist to do this calls for celebration and support. We will go back (to Abuja) to look for various ways to support this great enterprise”. One of the ways government will support the venture, it was learnt, would be to grant it tax holiday and maybe (according to a top official in the ministry) recommend zero tariff on CKD sets.
Chukwuma disclosed that orders had been placed for buses; an indication that it has been a successful debut for the range which, according to him, would be expanded later with more models.
He said a dealership and service network was being developed gradually; adding that for now, any buyer has the assurance of a reliable after-sales back-up from his company wherever he is located in the country.
He said price is one of the biggest advantages the IVM-badged vehicles have over its competing brand.
“Our vehicle will be by far more affordable, without any compromise on quality standards,” the Innoson Chairman stated.
Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts
Related posts:
Loading ...
Henry
Loveth Ndukwe
Emmanuel
