By Daniels Ekugo
VON Automobile Nigeria, a subsidiary of Stallion Group and maker of Ashok Leyland buses, has expressed its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing investment initiative in India.
The initiative coincides with the 2023 G20 Summit taking place on September 9th and 10th.
Dr. Harpreet Singh, the company’s Managing Director, commended President Tinubu’s efforts and highlighted the prospective investment in Nigeria’s automotive industry that resulted from his visit to India.
President Tinubu, right, and Mr. Gopichand Hinduja, the Chairman and CEO of the Hinduja Group of Companies
President Tinubu’s meeting with Mr. Gopichand Hinduja, Chairman and CEO of the Hinduja Group of Companies, a conglomerate with a total asset portfolio exceeding $100 billion U.S. Dollars, led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for further investment in Nigeria’s automobile industry.
Mr. Hinduja pledged a multi-billion dollar investment and expressed his commitment to bus and automobile manufacturing in Nigeria.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,(Middle),Past President CII & Founder and Chairman Bharti Enterprises,Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal,Director General CII,Mr Chandrajit Banerjee,Minister of Trade Investment Mrs Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of Finance Economy,Mr Olawale Edun,Minister of Digital Economy, Mr BosunTijani (Right) Minister of Foreign Affairs,Mr Yusuf Tuggar,High Commissioner of Nigeria to India, Ahmed Sule,Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun,President Nigeria/India Business Council, Mr Sharma and President CII & Chairman, TVS Supply Chain Solutions Ltd,Mr R Dineh,during Nigeria/India Presidential Roundtable Business Conference at le Meriden, New Delhi,India. 06/09/2023
Dr. Singh welcomed the news, expressing confidence that President Tinubu’s administration would prioritize the nation’s automobile industry.
He stated that VON Automobile, as a pioneer and leading automobile assembler since 2013, remains dedicated to supporting the government’s push for a clean and eco-friendly environment with mass transit buses running on clean and affordable energy sources. The company is currently modifying its locally assembled mass transit buses to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric power.
The locally assembled Ashok Leyland buses, including the Falcon and Hawk models, have been available in Nigeria since 2014. These buses, designed specifically for the Nigerian environment, offer durability, power, safety, and a longer lifespan. Dr. Singh emphasized that the CNG and electric-powered Falcon and Hawk buses will help reduce running costs for Nigerians, particularly in light of recent fuel subsidy removal measures.
VON Automobile’s state-of-the-art service centers and certified technical specialists are also ready to provide world-class after-sales support to extend the lifespan of the buses.
VON Automobile’s assembly plant, located along Lagos – Badagry Expressway in Lagos, Nigeria, not only produces buses, but also cars, pickups, trucks, and other vehicles that serve as viable alternatives to imported fully built-up new and used vehicles.