… as NAJA Celebrates Excellence, Resilience in Auto Industry
Changan CS55 has clinched the award of ‘The Car of the Year’ at the Nigeria Auto Journalists’ Association (NAJA) 2024 award ceremony where excellence and resilience are celebrated.
Thr elaborate ceremony held on Wednesday December 11, 2024 night at the prestigious Oriental Hotel, Lagos,
had the CS55, a compact crossover sport utility vehicle (SUV), edge out two other competitors; the Toyota Corolla and Kia Rio, nominated for the coveted award.
It is the first time a Changan automobile product would be winning Nigeria’s car-of-the-year award.
Changan vehicles are marketed and assembled in Nigeria by Mikano Motors.
Last year, Honda HR-V, a Japanese product also being assembled in Nigeria, won the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association’s ‘Car of the Year’ award.
Both Toyota Corola and Kia Rio were past winners of the Nigeria’s car-of-the-year prize.
The current Nigeria’s ‘Car-of-the-Year’ champion, Changan CS55, is more than a crossover; it is stylish and versatile and has been making waves in the automotive industry.
The Changan CS55 powered by a 1.5L turbocharged engine, producing 178 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque has a fuel economy of 27 mpg city and 31 mpg highway.
Other big winners at the award night are Toyota (Nigeria) Limited getting a recognition as ‘Auto Company of the Decade,’ CIG Motors was adjudged ‘Auto Company of the Year,’ while the award for the Most Resilient Company of the Year went to Globe Motors.
Coscharis Motors took home the ‘Multi-Luxury Brand of the Year’ award and the Luxury SUV of the Year through the Range Rover Autobiography.
While the founder and late Chairman of Lanre Shittu Motors, Alhaji Olarenwaju Shittu, was honoured with a Posthumous Award, his son and current Managing Director of the Company, Mr. Taiwo Shittu, was named ‘Auto Personality of the Year.’
The Company also won the ‘Heavy Duty Truck of the Year’ through the JAC truck.
Product launches honoured are Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (Toyota By CFAO ), Toyota Belta and Rumion (TNL), Nord A9 (Nord Automibiles), Chery Tiggo 8 Pro (Carloha) and Suzuki Vitara.
The award for the ‘Transport Icon of the Year’ was given to Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, the Founder of Chisco Transport.
Mrs. Karima Okunola (Mikano Motors) received the ‘Auto Marketing Manager of the Year.’
Other winners are ‘Heavy-duty Truck Manufacturer of the Year’ – Sinotruk by Dangote; ‘Car Assembly Plant of the Year’ – Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing; ‘Minibus Assembler of the Year’ – Jet Systems; ‘Luxury Brand of the Year’ – Mercedes Benz; ‘Luxury Car of the Year’- Mercedes Benz S-Class; ‘Workshop of the Year’ – R.T Briscoe, and ‘Compact SUV of the Year’ – Kia Sonet.
The prize of the ‘Most Innovative Auto Company of the Year’ went to Carloha (Chery); ‘CNG-powered Mini Bus Brand of the Year’ – Nord; ‘Transport Company of the Year’ – Chisco; ‘Mid-size SUV of the Year’ – Toyota Land Cruiser Prado; and ‘Most Enterprising Auto Company of the Year’ – CFAO Mobility.
Toyota Hiace was named the ‘Minibus of the Year; Jetour bagged ‘The Fastest Growing Auto Brand of the Year,’ Yutong took the award of the ‘Luxury Coach of the Year,’ and Massilia won.the ‘Outstanding After-sales Service of the Year.’
Auto Industry Consultant, Dr. Oscar Odiboh, in a chat with journalists after the awards commended NAJA for increasing more awareness about vehicles and making automobile buyers more discerning.
He said: “There is more awareness now about cars. Auto journalists are deeper now. Look at what they read about the Car of the Year.
“This is the first time details about the ‘Car of the Year’ would be available like this. Now we talk about the transmission, the clutch, and everything that a car owner wants to know.”
According to him, there is a greater recognition of the Nigerian automobile markets, thanks to the works of the auto journalists.