Carlos Ghosn, CEO, Nissan Motor Corporation has revealed that Nissan can produce two to three million vehicles annually, using the facility at the VON Automobile assembly plant along Lagos-Badagry Expressway and consequently creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
He also said that Nissan Motor Corporation Japan is set to roll-out Nissan Patrol, Nigeria first ever assembled luxury Sport Utility Vehicle in April 2014. Ghosn made this remark as the high point of a sideline discussion between him and Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan at the just ended World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
“We are interested in producing popular cars, totally adapted to the needs of Nigerians,” he said, adding that the company also plans to bring its global suppliers to make vehicle components in the country,” he promised.
Nissan CEO assured the President that the Japanese vehicle manufacturer seeks to increase its investment in the country and establish its own vehicle production plants in the country.
This initiative is coming on the heels of the new National Automotive Policy formulated by the Federal Government to encourage domestic production of automobiles and attract foreign direct investment (FDI).
Already, work is ongoing at the VON Automobile multi-vehicle assembly plant, where Ashok Leyland buses and trucks as well as light duty Hyundai trucks are currently being assembled.
Tokunbo Aromolaran, managing director, VON Automobile Nigeria Limited has also said: “One of our biggest hopes is to stimulate some area around this location and make them manufacturing village where components can be manufactured.”
Meanwhile, President Jonathan has said his administration is fully committed to rapidly developing nation’s automobile industry through the diligent implementation of the country’s new national automotive policy. He said the key objective of the new policy was to make new cars affordable to more Nigerians.
“The only way to reduce the preponderance of second hand cars on our roads is to produce good quality cars with affordable pricing,” President Jonathan reasoned.
He however assured investors within the local automobile group of huge ready market, adding that “the automobile industry in the country has a huge potential for growth. The market is not just Nigeria, but the entire West African region.”
