Bennett Oghifo
Over 30 models of automobiles have been nominated for this year’s awards organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA).
The 2023 Nigeria Auto Awards will take place on December 14 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos and will feature automobiles which cut across several segments of the auto industry, as well as auto showrooms and vehicle assembly plants in the country.
On top of the list are; Suzuki Espresso, Honda HR-V and Changan Eado and they will battle for the coveted Car-of-the-Year, while Sino Truck Dangote, Shacman and JAC will go head-to-head in the Truck-of-the-Year category.
In the category for the Assembly Plant-of-the-Year, Lanre-Shittu Motors, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing and Mikano Motors are on the card, while Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Range Rover will compete in the Luxury-Brand-of-the –Year category.
In the Compact SUV-of-the-Year category, Changan CS35, GAC GS4 and new entrant, Honda HR-V led the category. And in the Large SUV category, Range Rover, Toyota Land Cruiser and Hyundai Palisade are the leading contenders.
Range Rover (Autobiography), BMW X7 and Mercedes G Wagon will battle for the Luxury SUV category. Maxus, Toyota, Mitsubishi and JAC will compete in the Pickup category, while GAC GS8, Changan Uni-K and JAC JS4 are the leading models in the outstanding auto design category.
In the minibus 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 and GAC are set to battle for the Auto Showroom of the Year award; Libra, Okeyson and GUO will compete in the Transport Company of the Year, while Bajaj and TVS are the two nominees in the Three-Wheeler of the Year category.
Chairman of the Awards committee, Rasheed Bisiriyu also stated that Chairman of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, would be honoured with the Auto Personality of the Year for his immense contributions to the development of Nigeria’s auto industry.
He said nominees in the various categories were decided by an esteemed panel composed of experts in the industry, dealers and motoring editors.
Bisiriyu said, “In producing these results, our panel demonstrated fierce dedication to their craft by selecting nominees worthy of their consideration in 2023.”
