First Nigerian indigenous Nigerian auto maker, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co. Ltd (IVM), has launched the first set of passenger cars to roll off its assembly plant in Umudim, Nnewi, Anambra State. Guests and auto industry stakeholders at the ceremony said the new cars named Fox and Umu are the pride of the nation and “truly made-in-Nigeria”.

They said that the Innoson cars are genuinely Nigerian in terms of brand name, vehicle names, local content and competitive price advantage. Special guest of honour, Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga said he was impressed with the quality of the vehicles, stressing that Innoson has become a reference point in the success story of the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (automotive policy) introduced by the Federal Government last year. He said the company is currently the leader in terms of job creation in the sector. Aganga further described IVM Fox and IVM Umu as the lowest priced cars in the market even as he credited them with the highest level of local content among all similar vehicles from the domestic auto industry.

The Innoson car range, New Telegraph learnt would be widened in the next couple of months with products for both the lower and top ends of the sedan market. It has price tags starting from N1.4m and rising to about N3.2m. Specifically, depending on the trim level, prices for the Fox start from about N1. 4m, even as there are others wearing N1.6m and N1.9m tags. Powered by a 1.5 litre Mitsubishi engine working in harmony with either a four-speed automatic transmission or a five-speed manual alternative, the Fox is a five-seater hatchback, which Aganga seemed very comfortable in, when he undertook a short test-drive within the IVM premises after lifting the veil off it.

The air-conditioned car also features display screen, automatic foldable rearview mirror, urban navigation equipment and four airbags for the driver and front passenger and the sides.. On the other hand, Umu is a bigger offering with a more powerful (2.0 litre) engine than its sibling. The sedan won many hearts at the roll-out ceremony with its sleek, modern silhouette – the kind of commanding presence that gets many Japanese and European products noticed. Some of the salient features the car flaunts are USB auxiliary interface, four airbags and a provision for urban navigation system.

Also new in the plant, but not under the spotlight with Fox and Umu at the public presentation is Uzo, a mini bus with seven seats. Fox and Umu, as well as Uzo, have fuel efficiency as their unique selling points. Chairman/CEO, Innoson Group, Chief Innocent Chukwu in a welcome address said: “These cars were carefully built to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

They have been prepared to offer good services to both private and corporate users.” [b]He said very strategic to the operations of the Nnewi auto plant is Innoson Technical and Industrial Co. Ltd, a highly successful general and industrial plastic products manufacturing sister company in Emene-Enugu, which supplies all plastic and rubber components in all Innoson vehicles, including the new passenger cars. Sundry parts and accessories are also sourced from the famous Nnewi auto industrial cluster, including Ibeto, Omatha Holdings, Chicason (A-Z Petroleum) and Cutix Cables, among others.

This was hailed by the guests, especially against the backdrop of the fact that the promotion of local content development is a major target of the auto policy which also recognises Nnewi as one of the three industrial clusters where auto parts produced for the assembly plants will be tested and certified. The President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Ademola Isaac Olorunfemi, who also spoke on Innoson vehicles at the event, confirmed that they have high local content, disclosing that NSE collected a 15-seater IVM 5000 bus from the plant in 2011, for assessment and feedback.[/b]

“Automotive Engineers Institute, a Division of NSE, carried out the said assessment and certified it”, he disclosed. The minister was very passionate and effusive in commending the lead role Nnewi plays in the auto industry, the vehicles produced by Innoson and the vision of Chief Chukwuma, whose brain, according to him, “is equal to those of two Harvard professors”. Echoing the remarks by the NSE President on the assessment of an Innoson bus and recalling the achievements of Nnewi in the auto sector, Aganga dubbed the town the ‘Japan of Africa’. He said he had looked forward to being part of the historic unveiling of the first made-in- Nigeria vehicle in the town.

http://newtelegraphonline.com/innoson-rolls-out-fox-umu/

Good news 1st2c

whats the price pls?

cardoso111:
whats the price pls?

You commented before reading the post.
Typical.

Proudly made in nigeria

Wow, 1.4-1.6m is really affordable.

At least, I've got somebody close to home I will whine to if it develops fault.

i like the ruggedity of innoson vehicles, the AC na die.......was in one from lagos to ilorin to nnewi in space of two days they tried but we would get there

I just don't understand this story of these cars. Is it that they are not yet in the market or what. Can't we get pictures of the interior, engine and of the car. Am getting tired of all these frontal shots. There is more to a car than frontal shots pls.