The awards were announced at a well-attended ceremony held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, drawing key stakeholders from across Nigeria’s automotive value chain to celebrate innovation, resilience and excellence in the industry.
For the Changan CS55, the honour marks another milestone following its triumph at the 17th edition of the awards last year, where it was named Nigeria’s New Car of the Year. At the 2025 ceremony, the compact crossover SUV outperformed strong rivals including the Kia Sonet and Chery Tiggo to secure the Midsize SUV award.
Changan vehicles are marketed and locally assembled in Nigeria by Mikano Motors, a development that continues to underscore the growing importance of domestic assembly in the country’s automotive sector.
In the Compact SUV category, the Kia Seltos claimed top honours ahead of competitors such as the Toyota Prado, Changan CS55 and Chery Tiggo. Industry analysts have praised the Seltos for its blend of bold styling, practicality and versatility, qualities that have strengthened its appeal among modern drivers.
The ceremony also recognised several corporate leaders in the industry. Mikano Group was named Auto Company of the Year, while Iron Products Industries (IPI) Limited received the Truck Assembler/Body Builder of the Year award. Lanre Shittu Motors (JAC) was honoured as Truck Plant of the Year, and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) won Passenger Car Assembly Plant of the Year. Collectively, the awards highlighted the growing depth of indigenous participation in Nigeria’s automotive landscape.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Otunba Joseph Osanipin, commended NAJA for sustaining a credible platform that promotes accountability and excellence within the sector.
NAJA Chairman, Mr. Theodore Opara, described the awards as a benchmark for performance, noting that Nigeria’s automotive industry continues to evolve amid policy reforms, technological advances and shifting consumer expectations.
The 2025 NAJA International Auto Awards once again reaffirmed the role of leading brands and local assemblers in strengthening Nigeria’s transportation and industrial backbone, while celebrating outstanding achievements across the automotive ecosystem.