Ecstasy as Kia Rio bags Nigeria”s Car of the Year

Regarded as the People’s Car, Kia Rio, one of the locally assembled cars by Kia Motors Nigeria has truly lived up to its name as it emerged winner of the Car of the Year (COTY) Award at the 2015 edition of the annual Nigerian Auto Journalists Award,(NAJA).

During the award night at the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos which brought together stakeholders in Nigeria’s auto industry including Aminu Jalal, the Director General, National Automotive Design and Development, NADDC, Boboye Oyeyemi corps marshal and chief executive, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) , represented by Nseobong Akpabio, assistant corps marshal and zonal commanding officer RS-2, comprising Lagos and Ogun States, Federal Roads Safety Commission, among others, Kia Rio beat Peugeot 301, Nissan Almera and Toyota corolla to cart away the coveted prize.

For the Car Company of the Year, Peugeot beat Ford and Nissan to emerge winner as Innoson Vehicles Manufacturers went home with the Indigenous Auto Assembler of the Year Award.

Other winners at the award night included Mercedes Benz S-class which bagged the Luxury Sedan of the Year Award, Briscoe won the Most Enterprising Auto Dealership of the Year Award as Iron Products Industry(IPI) bagged the Auto Builder of the Year Award.

Others included; Stallion, Auto as Auto Assembler of the Year, Elizade Toyota: Workshop of the Year, , Range Rover: Luxury SUV of the Year, Pick Up of the Year was won by Toyota Hilux and Truck Brand of the Year went to Mercedes Benz.

Also, Mitsubishi Canter marketed by CFAO Motors emerged Light Truck of the Year, while Independent Auto Workshop of the Year went to Admiralty Motors; Globe Motors won the Auto Dealership of the Year, Sixt emerged as Car Rental Company of the Year.

In his welcome address, Frank Kintum, President, Nigeria Automotive Journalists Association, NAJA, said in discharging one of its duties and responsibilities as watchdogs of the society, Automotive Journalists in Nigeria organised the annual NAJA in recognition of products and persons that have stood out during the course of the year.

Kintum noted that NAJA has undoubtedly become the hallmark of the auto industry having stood the test of time for over 15 years.

“In the automative/automobile sector, it is the responsibility of auto Journalists to watch closely what is happening in terms of launch of new models, entry of new brands as they affected the industry.” He remarked.

The NAJA chairman charged all stakeholders to always cooperate with NADDC in order to drive the National Automotive Industry Development (NAIDP) as every stakeholder remains key in making the auto policy a success.

Giving more insight on the Car Of The Year (COTY) Award, Mike Ochonma, vice president of NAJA, while speaking on behalf of Theodore Opara, chairman of NAJA Awards organising committee stated before dealerships the final proper, dealerships of the Nissan Almera, Toyota Corolla, Kia Rio and Peugeot 301 brands under the COTY category were approached to present their vehicles for test-drive as one of the parameters for assessment by the Award committee.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Kunle Adeojo managing director, Toyota Nigeria, thanked the journalists for organising the award. While charging the award winners not to rest on their oars as they should continue to provide good and quality automobiles  for Nigerians, Adeojo urged those who could not win any of the awards to work harder next year in order to be recognized. ‎