Hyundai Creta, GA3 and Toyota Corolla have been pronounced finalists of this year’s Nigerian Car of the Year (COTY) Award.
In a media statement released on Friday, 2018 Award Planning Committee of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) revealed that finalists of COTY as well as other categories were selected by jury members of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA).
“The eventual winners,” it stated, “would be determined by all motoring journalists and professionals with utmost objectivity, credibility and integrity.”
Unlike Corolla, which had over the years featured severally as nominee and winner of the award, Creta and GA3 are first-time contenders. But, according to the organizing committee, the top contenders were selected due to their popularity as proven by their visibility on the Nigerian roads.
Introduced since 1966, Toyota Corolla has been one of the world’s best-selling cars since 1974. In 1997, it became the best selling name plate in the world, surpassing the Volkswagen Beetle. Toyota reached the milestone of 40 million Corollas sold over eleven generations in July 2013.
Marketed in Nigeria by Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL), Corolla has been a household name in the country. Although, following the nation’s economic downturn, the brand lost huge chunk of its market shares to competitors, it still remains one of the most visible brands on Nigerian roads.
Manufactured by Guangzhou Automobile Company (GAC MOTOR), one of the top five biggest Chinese automobile manufacturers, GA3, a compact sedan is exclusively distributed in Nigeria by CIG Motors Co., Ltd
First introduced into the Nigerian market in 2016, Hyundai Creta, a Compact car SUV, is marketed and distributed exclusively in Nigeria by Hyundai Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Stallion Group.
Aside Car of the Year, which will be the high point of the NAJA event holding on Thursday, either Mercedes Benz S-class or BMW 7-series shall be crowned Luxury Car of the Year.
Competing for Executive Car of the Year award are Toyota Camry, BMW 5-series and Honda Accord.
Other award categories include Luxury SUV of the Year for which Mercedes Benz GLE and Range rover Autobiography are locking horns.
Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi and Toyota Hilux are sprinting for Pick-up of the Year award.
Toyota Hiace, Nissan Urvan and Foton are finalists for Mini Bus of the Year, just as Isuzu N-series, Mitsubishi Canter and JAC Light truck are wrestling for Light Truck of the Year.
Heavy Duty Truck of the Year- Mercedes Actros, Sino Truck and JAC Truck; Most Improved Showroom- Massilia, Mercedes Benz Centre and Nissan Showroom; Tyre Brand of the Year, Dunlop, Michelin and Ceat; Most Resilient brand of the Year- Mercedes Benz, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Insurance Company of the year and other categories.
According to NAJA Awards Committee Chairman, Moses Ebosele, the Awards will among other things provide consumers with sound, comparative information on vehicles that are new to the market, and a platform for the automotive industry to demonstrate and celebrate in the key areas of manufacturing, efficiency, innovation and technology, corporate social responsibility and safety.
In his own comment, Chairman of NAJA, Mike Ochonma said the relevance, objectivity and credibility of the Awards cannot be put to question as the committee on annual basis painstakingly makes sure it brings out the best out of the event.
“The reason for setting up the NAJA Awards is still the same, which among other imperatives is to ensure that those who are driving a very impactful agenda in the auto industry are recognized,” he said.
He said, this year based on the teams research over the period, a few categories has been added to the already existed ones.
