The number of auto firms interested in assembling vehicles in Nigeria has increased with Globe Motors Holdings Nigeria Limited announcing its intention to establish an assembly plant for Higer automobiles worth $120m (about N19.8bn).
This is coming about six months after the Federal Government had announced a new auto policy that was designed to discourage the importation of cars and encourage local manufacturing of vehicles.
A statement from Globe Motors on Monday said the company had entered into partnership with Higer Bus Company of China to build an ultra modern vehicle assembly plant in Lagos.
The plant, it said, would come on stream within 18 months for the assembling of buses. Other Higer range of vehicles would follow thereafter, it added.
The statement quoted the Managing Director of Globe Motors, Mr. Victor Oguamalam, as saying that the company had acquired about 12 hectres of land already being developed for the plant.
He said the firm would be built with the capacity to produce over 22,000 vehicles annually.
Oguamalam, who said the plant would commence with 6,000 vehicles, decided to partner Higer Bus Company because of its high quality of products and wide range of models.
He also disclosed that the new auto assembly plant would be first of its kind in the country with separate divisions to produce two other international automobile brands in addition to the Higer range of vehicles.
Oguamalam said the Globe Motors assembly plant would also introduce completely new models designed solely for Nigeria, stressing that this would give the brand a Nigerian identity.
Higer Bus Company Limited was established in 1998, and considered one of the fastest developing bus manufacturers in China, it noted.
The firm, the statement stressed, was renowned for its innovation and driven by its strong research and development efforts.
It said, “Higer’s technological infrastructure is provided by Toyota, the internationally renowned Japanese auto maker, and also has technical partnership with Scania for developing, manufacturing and exporting buses of very high and international standard to Europe. The company produces and sells buses and other vehicles in different countries in Africa, Middle East, Europe, South-east Asia and South America.
“With 15 years of continuous improvements and growth, Higer has built a modern bus manufacturing base exporting to 85 countries and territories worldwide. It has over 50 series and more than 300 models covering coaches, city buses, new energy buses, mini buses, school buses, Bus Rapid Transit buses, pick-ups, SUV’s among others.
Oguamalam stated that Globe Motors’ partnership with Higer would ensure high quality and affordable automobile vehicles for Nigerians and create jobs in the country.
The statement also gave a background of Globe Motors Holdings Nigeria Limited, which was incorporated in Nigeria about 30 years ago to carry on the business of trading in motor vehicles.
It stated, “From a modest beginning in Surulere, it expanded to Victoria Island, Lagos and thereafter evolved a nationwide automobile sales and services network. Its first workshop was established in 1997 and since then, it has developed into an efficient after-sales centre providing after-sales and maintenance services to all its customers.
“Globe Motors’ new after-Sales centre, located in Lekki is a comprehensive maintenance centre which caters for different brands.”
The firm, it noted, had been involved in the sale of Higher vehicles along with other brands such as Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, and Hyundai, before going into the establishment of an auto assembling plant.
It also stated that the company’s workshops were equipped with the most recent and sophisticated diagnostic equipment.
The workshop, it added had over 50 work bays, a body section, alignment and balancing sections with well trained and experienced technical personnel to attend to customers.
