The government’s Green Initiative has found a championing body, as Toyota (Nigeria) Limited has decided to promote it and introduce three electric cars into the nation over the next three years.
In an engaging conversation with reporters during the company’s inaugural Toyota Motor Show, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, Managing Director, revealed this. The Toyota Cross, RAV4, and Land Cruiser Prado are the names of the hybrid electric vehicles that will soon be available in Nigeria.
He has this to say: “By the end of this year, we will be introducing our first hybrid electric vehicle, Toyota Cross. Next year, we will introduce the RAV4 hybrid. And late next year or early 2026, we would be bringing in the Land Cruiser Prado hybrid.”
Following the national news release, he declared that Toyota will lend its network of workshops to assist the federal government’s push for the conversion of automobiles to run on natural gas.
Adding, he said: “We are almost concluding arrangements with different partners to use our network of workshops for vehicle conversion to CNG-powered.”
‘1,500 units sold in 2023’
Despite his prediction that 15,000 new cars will be sold in Nigeria this year, Ade-Ojo said that the country sold only 10,000 new cars in 2023, with Toyota accounting for around 1,500 of those sales. He said Toyota Nigeria Limited was expected to achieve twice the results of the previous year.
Test drives, interactive conversations, special after-sale packages, the introduction of two new Toyota products (Belta and Rumion), and car displays were all highlights of the invitation-only auto show. The service area, spare parts cubicle, and body and paint section were all housed in the comfortable, spacious area.
There was an international test-drive arena for clients who wanted to feel any of the cars located within the fully adorned Toyota show venue, outside the hall.
Other Toyota Nigeria Limited executives were present in addition to Ade-Ojo, providing information on each of the cars on show as well as after-sale advice. He personally led business clients on tours of various areas, including powerful chief executive officers of significant corporations and high-ranking government officials.
According to him, the show allowed the Toyota team to “have one-on-one interaction with our customers without any distraction; free diagnosis on customers’ vehicles and a test drive, all taking place in a quiet and comfortable environment.”
Continuing, Ade-Ojo, who conversed with CEOs as well, expressed happiness with the turnout and results of the gathering.
Ade-Ojo had this to stay: “It was a wonderful outing. Everybody enjoyed the ability to come and have a one-on-one interaction with our team.
“The after-sale area is one sector that has been of major interest to customers who have been coming. The free diagnosis has been well received,” he concluded.
