By Moses Akaigwe

Nigeria’s automotive industry received a boost recently when Dangote Peugeot AutomobilesNigeria Limited (DPAN) commenced the assembly of Peugeot brand of vehicles at its newly built Green Field Assembly Plant in Kaduna.

At the roll-out of the first 301 car, both the management and staff celebrated the coming on stream of thevehicle at the plant even as they looked forward to the official commissioning of the facility during last week’s state visit to Kaduna by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Owned jointly by billionaire businessman and manufacturer, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, through hisDangote Industries Limited; Kaduna and Kebbi State Governments; and a technical partner (Stellantis Group, the parent company of Peugeot),DPAN is scheduled to expand its model  line-up to meet the varied demands and needs of the Nigerian auto market.

Vehicles to be introduced in the local market between now and 2023 include the Landtrek, 3008, 5008 and the  new  508, which are expected to flaunt their outstanding aesthetics, rich technological endowment and safety features  to  appeal  to the customers and the motoring public.

A document obtained from the DPAN,which has as its Managing Director Ibrahim  Issa  Gachi, a seasoned engineer with over  30  years  experience  in  automobile  manufacturing, engineering  and  management  consultancy  services, indicates that the company has  the  capacity  to  assemble  120  cars a day running two shifts.

The company noted that it is not unmindful of the reality that it is re-launching the roaring lion brand amidst socio-economic challenges, steep competition,  cheaper  and sometimes sub-standard Asian models as well as COVID-19 realities.

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The management, however, assured that it is confident that the popularity and the reputationof being reliable which the older generations of the vehicles earned across Nigeria over the past decades with 404, 504, 505, 406, 306 and others, will drive the new generation of vehicles now being assembled at theDPAN plant in Kaduna, to the top of market.

“With the New Green Field Ultima Assembly Plant, a lot is being done by DPAN to ensure visibility of the Peugeot brand and availability of spare parts to the network and the generality of Nigerians. DPAN will be encouraged by our technical partner to reposition thebrand in the short, medium,and long term as we ensure customer satisfaction and sustainability.

“This dream has started with the re-launch of the Peugeot brand in Nigeria as well as the local assembly  of  the  301  at  our  new Kaduna  plant  and  thereafter  the  introduction  of  the Landtrek,  3008,  5008 andthe  new  508…Nothing  is being  spared to enable  market recapture, hence  all  hands  are on deck  to  ensure not  just  survival  but  also  continued  growth  in  a  market  with  potential  for  cars  in  excess  of 100,000 units per year and growing.”

It was also learnt that following the Peugeot franchisegranted to DPAN, contact has been established with some existing Peugeot dealers and major customers to deepen the market as well as provide excellent customer service and satisfaction both in the short, medium and long term.

This is expected to impact positively on sales volumes, product visibility and overall profitability for all stakeholders.

The Dangote  Peugeot  Automobiles Limited  is coming on stream about four years after it got the green light in 2018,  having earlier indicated interest in the former Peugeot plant, now PAN Nigeria Ltd{also located in Kaduna}.