NIGERIAN Auto industry Awards of 2021 was like no other since instituted. Best described as a harvest of industry awards, not less than 28 players, personalities, and stakeholders of the automotive and road transport sector carted home plaques of honour and recognition.
The crescendo was the Car of the Year, which Hyundai Creta won, defeating the Toyota Corolla and Kia Rio.
However, also significant are five special awards, including Pillar of Nigeria Auto Industry bestowed on Chief Michael Ade Ojo, founder of Elizade Motors; Road Safety Personality Of The Decade won by Boboye Oyeyemi Ph.D., MFR; Nigeria Auto CEO Of The Year awarded to Chief Diana Chen, (Chairman/CEO, CIG Group), Auto Personality Of the Year (Public Sector) conferred on Jelani Aliyu MFR (DG, NADDC) and Auto Personality Of the Year (Corporate) bequeath on Jacky Hathiramani (MD, Dana Motors).
For the first time, Innoson featured brightly in the prestigious event, emerging as the nation’s Auto Manufacturer of the Year(local content).
Coscharis Motors won for its Range Rover Velar LUXURY SUV OF THE YEAR.
Although Kia lost the ultimate COTY crown to its rival, the company’s K5 made it proud emerging as Executive Car of the year.
In the same vein, while Toyota Corolla lost COTY to the bigger CRETA from Hyundai, Toyota Nigeria harvested for its Hiace, Hilux and Starlet awards for Min bus of the Year, Pick up of the Year and Most Transformed New Entrant of the year respectively.
For the first time, Motor Sports crept into the event. WORK &PLAY, an outfit, which has, in recent years, promoted Motor Rally across the country, was bestowed with special recognition as Motor Rally Promoter of the Year.
Find below a comprehensive roll call of winners at the 2021 Nigerian Auto Industry Awards put together by the Nigerian Auto Journalists Association.
