Toyota Set To Roll Out Its Made In Nigeria Cars At Lagos Factory Within The Next Couple Of Months

Japanese automobile giant Toyota plans to roll out its first made in Nigeria cars within the next few months as part of an ambitious plan step up its presence in the market and dramatically increase its share of automobiles sold.

Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, chairman of Toyota Nigeria, said that the first set of Nigeria-assembled Toyota cars will be rolled out in a couple of months. He spoke in Lagos at the unveiling of an automobile assembling plant dedicated to the production of two vehicle brands Toyota and JAC, with a target of 15,000 vehicles yearly.

“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,” Chief Ade-Ojo said.

He added that although the section reserved for the production of Toyota cars has yet to commence operation, the JAC division has produced its first set of 10 vehicles. Elizade Autoland, a subsidiary of Elizade Nigeria, owned by Chief Ade-Ojo, has the franchise for the JAC brand of vehicles.

According to Demola Ade-Ojo, the managing director of Elizade Nigeria, 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. The plant, which is currently operating on a single shift, was said to have been certified by the federal government to build different brands of cars.

Toyota Nigeria last year presented its first locally assembled bus, Hiace, to the motoring public as a confirmation that it had joined the league of automobile firms that had embraced the federal government’s policy introduced in 2013 to encourage local production of vehicles. At least 30 car makers have sought and received the federal government’s approval to set up vehicle assembly plants in Nigeria.

Many of these manufacturers, however, have yet to commence operations as they are complaining about low patronage. Introduced by the last government, Nigeria’s National Automotive Industry Development Plan is designed to generate employment, boost gross domestic product and promote the small medium and enterprises in the sector as well as aid skills development and technology transfer.