Toyota Nigeria Limited has announced that it is giving serious consideration to the establishment of an automobile assembly plant in Nigeria.
Chairman, TNL, Chief Michael Ade.Ojo, dropped the hint in Abuja at the unveiling of new generation RAV4.
Many have expressed the view that the time is ripe for Toyota, a consistent leader in the annual new vehicle sales in the country, to set up an assembly plant will serve the local and neighbouring markets.
Apparently responding to the call, Ade.Ojo said the company was already thinking along the direction.
He said, “This is a very serious thought; it is a serious plan that should materialise, by God’s grace, as soon as most of the conditions are met.”
It is expected that a Toyota assembly plant in Nigeria will lead to a reduction in the price of the brand of vehicles; creation of more jobs, improvement in technology and economic development.
Although TNL said last year that no decision had been taken on the proposal yet, it did not foreclose the idea of establishing an Toyota auto plant.
It said whenever it was ready, it would execute the project in conjunction with its parent company, Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan.
Ade.Ojo said the company was currently carrying out a survey to obtain necessary data that would lead to the establishment of the plant.
He, however, said the actualisation of the project would depend on a number of factors.
Ade.Ojo did not enumerate the factors. He simply said, “When we get most of the things (required), I can assure you, we will get an assembly plant in Nigeria.”
And about a week after unveiling the all-new RAV4 in Lagos, TNL took the latest Toyota vehicle in Nigeria to Abuja to showcase the new ride to its important residents and regular visitors.
Reports showed that the Abuja event was attended by top politicians, chief executive officers of private and government-owned organisations and other influential leaders of thought in the Federal Capital Territory.
Ade.Ojo described the new RAV4 as a key Toyota model with hi-tech features and yet evolved from the rich heritage of the brand’s superior engineering.
“The rich history of this model already imbues it with a treasure house of attributes peculiar only to all its siblings in our model lineup,” he said.
The new RAV4’s features, he added, would readily arouse in lovers of Toyota “a driving pleasure unparalleled in its class.”
The TNL stressed that the all new RAV 4 is a remarkable package of safety, comfort and performance in equal proportion.
“The all new RAV 4 will not only fulfil your mid-size sport utility vehicle expectations, it will avail you the value for your hard earned money,” he said.
The vehicle is offered with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine generating 176 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque.
It is coming with a six-speed automatic transmission as standard.
Toyota Nigeria said a robust after-sales service had been packaged for the new RAV4 to make its users enjoy the ride for a long time without any complaint.
He said, “Our resolve as an organisation has been to continually raise the quality of our after sale service delivery to our valued customers as well as rev up our response time in all ramifications of the business in order to ceaselessly sustain the high confidence level of our esteemed customers in the brand.”