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By Moses Akaigwe
The Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) has released the list of nominees for its 2023 Nigeria Auto Awards which indicates that top brands or their products, like Innoson, Honda, Mikano Motors, Coscharis and Stallion Motors, have been nominated for various honours.
The grand event is scheduled for December 14 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, where the Chairman/CEO of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd {IVM}, Nnewi is.
T be specially honoured for his contributions to the development of Nigeria’s automotive industry.
The list features over 30 and models of automobiles which cut across several segments of the auto industry, as well as auto showrooms and vehicle assembly plants in the country.
Suzuki Espresso, Honda HR-V and Changan Eado made the shortlist for the coveted Car-of-the-Year, while Sinotruk, Dangote, Shacman and JAC will go head-to-head in the truck category.
For the assembly plant prize, Lanre-Shittu Motors, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd (IVM) and Mikano Motors, are the nominees, while Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Range Rover are on the list for the Luxury Brand category.
Stallion (JAC), Mandilas Motors and CFAO have been nominated for the Auto Workshop of the Year honour
In the Compact SUV segment, Changan CS35, GAC GS4 and new-look Honda HR-V are the nominees, just as the Large SUV plaque will go to one of the following: Range Rover, Toyota Land Cruiser and Hyundai Palisade.
Range Rover (Autobiography), BMW X7 and Mercedes G Wagon will battle for the Luxury SUV category, just as Maxus, Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi L200 and JAC T6 will compete for the Pickup prize.
GAC GS8, Changan Uni-K and JAC JS4 are on the shortlist for the outstanding auto design category.
In the mini bus category, Toyota Hiace, Jet Mover, Foton View C2 and NORD Flit are the nominees, while Stallion Motors, ANAMMCO and Briscoe will vie for the Most Resilient Auto Company award.
Coscharis (Ford), Mikano Motors and GAC will wait till December 14 to know whose showroom has emerged the best for the outgoing year.
The commercial road transporters have not been left out, because Libra, Okeyson and GUO Transport are competing for the Transport Company of the Year honour, while Bajaj and TVS are the two nominees for the three-wheeler award.
Chairman of the awards committee, Rasheed Bisiriyu said in a statement that Chief Innocent Chukwuma, would be honoured with the Auto Personality of the Year.
He disclosed that in deciding to honour the indigenous automaker, the organisers took into consideration that IVM, Nnewi in 2021 {long before the withdrawal of fuel subsidy} pioneered the production of vehicles that run on autogas, including the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Compress Natural Gas (CNG) in Nigeria.
He said nominees in the various categories were decided by an esteemed panel composed of experts in the industry, dealers and motoring editors.
“In producing these results, our panel demonstrated fierce dedication to their craft by selecting nominees worthy of their consideration in 2023,” he stated.
He said the anticipation for this year’s awards ceremony is stronger than ever among consumers and the automotive sector.
He said, “The winners in the various categories will be revealed live at the grand event scheduled for December 14, 2023 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos in a grand ceremony.”
The Nigerian Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) is an association of professional journalists, writers, and corporate members whose focus is the automobile and the Nigerian automotive industry.
