Boulos Hits 50% Local Content On New Piaggio 200

[dropcap]B[/dropcap]OULOS Enterprises Limited (BEL) continues its journey towards producing a full made-in-Nigeria vehicle with the launch of new Piaggio CP200 Van. Based on the world’s bestselling tri-cycle, the Piaggio Ape 200cc passenger tricycle, Boulos has designed, fabricated and manufactured a van version for commercial use in Nigeria.

Entire rear section of the van, including its rear floor platform, steel structure, steel or aluminium cladding (dependent on customer order), roof unit and all doors are fabricated and manufactured in the Ikeja-based Boulos factory.

The CP200 van joins the ever expanding range of products produced by the all Nigerian workforce of men and women, which includes other commercial vehicles, seven brands of motor cycles, Suzuki Marine Outboard Engines, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi Power Bikes and Piaggio tri cycles.

Reacting to the achievement, , the company’s National Corporate Manager, Mr. Joseph Fayose expressed fulfilment over the launching of what he described as a vehicle that is ideally suited to Boulos Enterprises’ philosophy of ‘Transport Solutions for Nigeria’.

“This nippy, economical Piaggio van,” explained Fayose, “carries up to 400kg and is ideally suited to the streets and roads of Nigeria. In fact, because it is manufactured by us it is only available in Nigeria! It is tough, reliable and Boulos has ample parts stock to ensure that nothing is ever lacking for servicing the vehicle. As we manufacture the van, we can configure it for the needs of any business. It can have Back Doors for side streets or Side Doors for back streets”.

The new CP200 Van is available from N 520,000, including the rear body unit. Other body options are available including a Pick Up (at a lower price) and diesel version (at a higher price)

Boulos Enterprises Limited was incorporated in 1964 by the Boulos brothers, Anthony and Gabriel Boulos. The main focus of their business initially, was trading and incorporation of general merchandise, including some brands of motorcycles from Western Europe. After few years, they concentrated on importation of Suzuki brand of motorcycles and outboard motors from Japan. And since then, Boulos has remained a leading motorcycle and outboard motors distribution and assembly company in Nigeria.

The continued growth in Suzuki motorcycle business stimulated the company to establish the first assembly plant in the country at Oregun, Ikeja Nigeria in 1969 existing till date to assemble motorcycles from Completely Knocked Down (CKD) parts to Fully built up ( FBU) by Nigerian staff. It is worthy to note this was implemented at the initiative of the company as all other competitors in the country were still importing fully built up motorcycles.

The ban of fully built motorcycles gave the company the impetus to embark on a manufacturing/assembly plant. Considering the bright future of automobile business in Nigeria and the level of technology, the company embarked on the construction of a phased integrated motorcycles manufacturing complex located at its present 25 acre plot at Ogba Industrial Scheme Ikeja, Lagos. The present integrated plant has an installed capacity of 150,000 units for motorcycles assembling per annum on a single 8-hours shift per working day. Additionally Piaggio auto rickshaw tricycles are assembled at the factory/plant. This is now joined by the CP 200 Van.

The motorcycle and tri-cycle plant assembling facilities has an independent service utilities backed up system to cover all products, including marine OBM.