From the first made in Nigeria pick-up vans to the first made in Nigeria buses and then the first made in Nigeria refuse compactors, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing has also produced the first made in Nigeria car brands.
Fox is a B-segment sedan with a hatchback version, driven by either a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission.
Occupants of the Fox, including the driver, have a very friendly interior ambience in contoured seats, ample legroom and headroom, and an air-conditioning system.
Amazon, bigger and more executive-looking, has a four-speed automatic transmission or a five-speed manual gearbox.
Both Fox, which costs N1.2 million; and Amazon (N1.3 million); have a sleek and attractive design which will appeal to corporate and individual customers.
Back in 2007 when Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing President, Innocent Chukwuma, thought of making cars in Nigeria, what he had going for him was only a dream; one which many feared might never see the light of day for many reasons.
Chukwuma, the visioner
To make such high-technology product, a “visioner” needs more than dream. Power is critical. Good roads to move components are important. There has to be the technology, as well as a steel industry.
Chukwuma, a relentless optimist who followed his heart, ignored the circumstances.
“I knew that it was not going to be easy. I was also aware of the competition that we would face, given that we were the first Nigerian company to do this type of thing. But I was also aware that, as they say, Rome was not built in a day,” he said.
“I am aware that there are other great brands that looked like late entrants in their own markets and segments, but went ahead to upstage the so-called established brands.
“When we started, we were not bullish. We knew the challenges that lay ahead, and that was why we started on a very small scale, believing that we would grow when the market sees the values in what we are offering.
“And this has worked for us because we have been growing significantly since we entered the market and I can assure you that those heights that the likes of Honda, Toyota and co have been able to reach, we will also get there one day.
“Remember that, before now, there were more German and French cars in Nigeria. In those days, we knew only of Mercedes Benz, Renault and Peugeot.
“But Japanese cars came in and have been doing what they are doing. To be successful is also what we would do and be even more successful.”
More brands in the pipeline
Innoson plans to roll out three other car brands in the near future. When this is done, Nigeria would have been on the map of global car makers, all down to the vision of one man.