Innoson Unveils LNG, CNG-powered Long  Buses, Heavy-duty Trucks, Passenger Car

Bennett  Oghifo

Nigeria’s first indigenous auto manufacturing firm, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd (IVM), recently unveiled a range of vehicles powered by CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) manufactured at its assembly plant in Nnewi, Anambra State.

Taking into consideration the future of mobility that is designed to run on clean energy, Innoson built the gas-powered vehicles, which include long intra-city buses; heavy duty truck heads; and a 1.5 litre passenger sedan.

The vehicles were commissioned by the President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Otunba Francis Meshioye, who led a delegation of the association’s leaders to the fast-expanding plant in Nnewi, according to a statement issued by the automaker.

Chairman, Innoson Group, Chief Innocent Chukwuma said his company realised the fact that the automotive fuel of the future is gas, mainly because of its economic advantages and environment-friendliness.

Chukwuma said the commissioning was a testament to the fact that Innoson is making Nigeria a hub for automobile manufacturing in Africa.

The Innoson Group founder further stated: “I observed that normal diesel and petrol are very expensive now in Nigeria. So, we have to find an alternative. This is to also ensure that the purchase of vehicles is made easier and their maintenance less costly This way, the average Nigerians can afford to buy vehicles and operate them with ease

“We have now l ventured into LNG, CNG-powered vehicles and are also trying to do electric vehicles. Electric vehicles, as well as LNG and CNG-powered vehicles are the future. The durability and running cost of these vehicles are comparatively better. They have been tested and found reliable, just that many people don’t know about it yet.”

Chukwuma, therefore, recommended a comprehensive public enlightenment on the advantages of embracing vehicles powered by CNG and LNG.

He sounded upbeat that Nigerians would realise the huge gains in using the alternative energy, adding that when people get used to motoring with gas vehicles, “they will not like to go back to  vehicles using petrol and diesel.”

Chukwuma lamented the rising costs of moving goods and equipment by trucks from one part of the country to another, owing to the exorbitant pump price of diesel.

He, however, assured  that with the new gas powered heavy duty truck heads and trailers that would soon hit the market, the cost of  movement of goods would crash.

The Innoson Chairman also informed his guests that patronage of the vehicles has, so far, been very encouraging, disclosing that many more procurement orders had been received from Benin city where some units are already in use due to existing support facilities.

“Most of the orders in my factory are from Benin. This means they already understand the advantages of these vehicles. We produce according to demand. We will be happy to see more people patronise local products.

Commenting after a tour of the plant, Francis Meshioye, President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, (MAN) said Innoson has all it takes to do the job of car manufacturing.

Meshioye reinforced Chukwuma’s statement, saying, “We have test-run one of the vehicles and it is very amazing. The gas-powered vehicles are the future for Nigeria. This is very innovative. It costs so much to transport goods from one place to another because of fuel. Gas is cheaper and better. It is the way to go.”

Also speaking, the Chairman, MAN South-East (Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu), Lady Ada Chukwudozie, who also spoke during the commissioning, described the production of the clean energy vehicles by Innoson as “a legacy project.”

Chukwudozie assured that gas is sufficiently available in Anambra State even as she urged  Innoson can leverage this advantage to dominate the market.

“Innoson is the pride of manufacturers. He has done so well. He is manufacturing vehicles. We have gone round and have seen things for ourselves and we are so proud of him,” she said.

She also said the governor of Anambra State is doing so much to support industrialization in the State, as recently signed an MOU with EEDC to ensure  power supply is steady in the state.

She said once power becomes stable in Anambra, there will be productivity, job creation and wealth creation.

Representatives of MAN, Bank of Industry, auto industry chieftains and oil and gas investors, at the commissioning ceremony, applauded the bold step by Innoson, which they said, would impact the auto sector and the economy generally

They commended Innoson for the huge investments in modern auto production which, according to them, clearly shows that the Nnewi plant is engaged in  serious auto manufacturing, and not mere SKD assembly.