Nigeria’s auto industry has received a boost as Dangote Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria Limited (DPAN) has started assembling vehicles in Nigeria, beginning with the Land Trek, 3008, 5008 and the new 508.
This is coming almost four years after Dangote Group entered a joint venture with PSA Peugeot Citroen, along with five northern state governments to re-start assembling of cars in the Kaduna plant by the first quarter of 2019
Since then, the Federal Government Group has granted approval to Dangote which previously expressed interest in the former Peugeot plant, now known as PAN Nigeria Ltd.
The Dangote’s newly built Green Field Assembly Plant in Kaduna can assemble 120 vehicles per day across two shifts.
The DPAN management explained that the vehicles to be introduced would be of high quality and aesthetics as well as rich technological endowment and safety features.
“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,” Dangote said.
DPAN plans to reposition the brand in the short, medium, and long term in order to ensure customer satisfaction and sustainability.
The statement said: “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 and the 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.
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.
The management, however, assured that it is confident that the popularity and reputation of 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 the DPAN plant in Kaduna, to the top of the market.
It said, “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 the brand 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 and the new 508…Nothing is being spared to enable market recapture, hence all hands are on deck to ensure not just
