November 20, 2017
The CFAO Group on Thursday inaugurated a Fuso truck assembly plant in Lagos in conjunction with Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, one of Asia’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers.
The factory will asemble at least 500 units of trucks yearly with the production of the Canter truck, which it described as the market leader in its segment.
The Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Dr. Okey Enelamah was represented by the Director-General of the Nigerian Automotive Design and Development Council, Mr. Jelani Aliyu.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CFAO Group, Mr. Richard Bielle, said the firm aimed to be a leader in the automobile business, particularly in the truck segment on the continent.
The Chairman of CFAO Nigeria Plc, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, acknowledged the support of the parent company in France over the years and in ensuring the success of the assembly plant.
Oyebode also said that the project would generate additional jobs and contribute significantly to the development of the Nigeria’s economy.
“This local assembly plant will greatly boost job creation and local content development as indigenous contractors were extensively engaged from the design to the construction stages of the plant in addition to employment of Nigerian engineers, technicians and interns in acquiring qualitative competency.
The Director International Sales Operations, Daimler Trucks Asia, Mr. Ilan Elad, Mr. Ilan Elad, said the decision to launch the auto assembly plant in Nigeria at a time many companies were folding up due to economic challenges was a mark of confidence of the firm in the Nigerian market.
He urged the Federal Government to stop allowing the importation of used trucks into the country in order to encourage local vehicle assemblers.
By Mayowa Michael Adeleye for NigeriaNews.ca
