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By Moses Akaigwe
The yearnings of car buyers in Lagos and other parts of the country seem to have been satisfied following the launch of an innovative virtual showroom aimed at transforming how Nigerians search for, finance and purchase new vehicles.
The first-of-its-kind virtual car market, the product of a partnership between Mikano Motors and Autochek Africa.was officially unveiled on February 27, 2026, during a press conference at the Mikano Motors showroom in Lagos.
Through the initiative, prospective buyers can now access the full Mikano Motors vehicle lineup—including models from Changan and Maxus—via a dedicated Mikano Motors Virtual Showroom hosted on the Autochek platform.
The digital platform allows customers to browse available vehicles, compare models, apply for automotive loans and explore flexible financing options from a single interface.
Buyers can also receive faster credit decisions, enabling them to complete key stages of the purchase process without physically visiting a showroom.
Checks at both Milano Motors and Autochek over the weekend show that from the moment the showroom opened for transactions, a stream of intending buyers has been showing interest in the vehicles on virtual display.
It was learnt that Mikano Motors’ vehicles, including the Changan and Maxus line-ups, have been receiving a lot of attention from customers desirous of taking advantage of the various options available.
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All the Changan products, including the Eado, a small sedan, Hunter Plus pick-up, and a bevy of irresistible luxury SUVs, like CS35 Plus, CS55 Plus, CS95 Plus, X7 Plus, as well as the UNI-K and UNI-T, have been driving traffic to the digital platform.
The Changan high-end luxury SUVs are characterised by a blend of futuristic design, advanced, top quality technology, and high-performance, turbocharged powertrains.
These strong points have positioned them to rival premium European brands in the market.
Equally grabbing their faIr shares of vehicle buyers’ attention since the launch of the virtual showroom is the Maxus brand, with the Maxus D90 Max, a high-performance SUV, and the Maxus T60 Elite pick-up, also tickling customers fancy.
Speaking at the launch, Group Executive Director of Mikano Motors, Joelle Haykal, said the partnership aligns with the company’s commitment to delivering a comprehensive vehicle ownership experience for customers.
“Our focus has always been on delivering not just new vehicles, but a complete ownership experience,” she said, noting that the company offers warranties of up to six years or 200,000 kilometres, supported by nationwide after-sales services.
Haykal added that Mikano’s vehicles are engineered to suit Nigerian road conditions, combining durability and performance to provide customers with peace of mind.
“This partnership allows us to combine premium mobility with smart financing solutions, giving customers greater flexibility, confidence and control over how they own a vehicle,” she said.
On his part, Chief Executive Officer of Autochek Africa, Etop Ikpe, said the collaboration addresses a major challenge in Nigeria’s automotive market—limited access to vehicle financing.
“The demand for vehicles in Nigeria has never been the issue. Access to financing has,” Ikpe said. “By combining Mikano’s premium vehicle portfolio with our embedded financing technology, we are unlocking access to multiple banking partners with fast approvals so that more Nigerians can own brand-new cars.”
Industry observers say the launch of the virtual showroom reflects a broader shift in Nigeria’s automotive sector as brands increasingly integrate digital platforms with traditional retail channels.
By blending physical showroom experiences with online accessibility, the Mikano–Autochek partnership is expected to expand access to new vehicle ownership while setting a new benchmark for digital automotive retail in the country.
