Stallion NMN Limited, Nigeria’s franchisee for the Nissan brand has reiterated the importance of putting in place the right policy towards activating for Nigeria the economic benefits of functioning automobile industry.
The company’s General Manager, Amit Sharma hinted at this while addressing journalists at the media launch of the new Nissan Navara pickup truck held in Lagos recently.
According to Sharma, being Africa’s most populous country with the biggest economy in the continent, Nigeria has an incredible potential to become a leading automotive industrial hub in the continent. He hinted that the way to harness the potential is by implementing the right policy.
He said: “It’s amazing when you think that Nigeria has the biggest economy in the continent – and a population that is the largest in Africa. This, however, indicates that there is incredible potential in Nigeria, everyone sees it, but to make it work, we all have to do it together.
“Having a functioning automotive industry with the investment that comes with it, the jobs it creates and the contribution it makes to the economy means having the right policies in place with a real will to implement those.”
Meanwhile, Sharma announced that his company had concluded plans to start assembling the recently launched Nissan Navara in Nigeria from the middle of 2022.
Fielding questions from journalists, he revealed that Stallion NMN plans to roll out for sale 500 to 600 units yearly, adding that his company is already discussing with a South African bank to offer Nigerians auto finance at a low-interest rate.
Sharma, who described the new Navara as a truck designed for the toughest roads imaginable on the African continent, noted that the truck is designed as much for the building site as it is for the shopping run or a lovely weekend away.
He explained: “The vehicle that will be sold here in Nigeria comes straight from the factory at Rosslyn in Pretoria, South Africa, which has become Nissan Motor Company’s LCV manufacturing hub for Africa.
“This New Navara has a reinforced chassis, with extra lateral and torsion bars, the suspension is different and tougher. It is powered by a 2.5L petrol engine that has proven reliable in Sub-Saharan Africa driving conditions. The engine is equipped with an impressive power output of 125KW and 244 Nm of torque.
“As you would know, one of the most essential qualities for pickup customers is the payload, a feature that Nissan engineers worked hard to upgrade, thereby ensuring that NAVARA returned with a top-class loading capacity. The payload capacity for the Double Cab 4×4 variant is 1086kg. It has an easy-lift tailgate and rear step bumper for easy loading.
“The Nissan Navara has been designed with and to give you smart technology; Nissan Connect with Android Auto and Apple Car Play, and Intelligent Around View monitor, moving object detection and an off-road mode. It’s a safe vehicle, with exceptional drive comfort.”
Meanwhile, Sharma pointed out that while the Navara is a successor of the Nissan NP300, which is no more in production, his company would continue to make parts available for owners across the country.
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