By Obinna Amaobi, Abuja
Mercedes Benz S-Class has been named as the Luxury Car of the Year at the 2019 Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) awards, held in Lagos, recently.
Apart from the Mercedes Benz S-Class, other vehicle brands and individuals, who distinguished themselves within the year, also got awards and industry recognitions.
Mercedes Benz S-Class emerged winner in that category ahead of BMW 7-series and Porsche Panamera in a selection that was dutifully carried out by auto journalists reporting the beat.
The award night had the representatives of Mr. Aliyu Jelani, the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr, Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) in attendance, as well as other key industry stakeholders and analysts who all commended the association for its objectivity in coming out with winners in different categories.
Besides, the Luxury Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) of the Year award went to Range Rover Autobiography, while Mitsubishi L200 edged out the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger to clinch the Pick-Up of the Year award.
Also, Mini Bus of the Year award went to the Toyota Hiace that competed with the Nissan Urvan and Mercedes Benz Sprinter buses.
In addition, New Auto Lubricant of the year award went to Motul, just as Ondo Motor Rally bagged the Motor Sports of the Year Award.
Cars.45 was named as the Online Auto Marketing Company of the Year; JAC, emerged the Most Improved Brand of the Year; even as Hyundai was named the Highest Selling Brand of The Year.
Mandilas was selected as the Auto Workshop of the Year and Changan was named as Fastest Growing Auto Brand of the Year and the Honda Accord took home Executive Car of the Year award.
Toyota Corolla also won the Car of the Year (COTY) Award, beating Hyundai Tucson and GAC GS4, a Chinese brand to the top prize.
Earlier, Mr. Mike Ochonma, Chairman of NAJA, in his welcome address, said the association’s award was the most prestigious and only recognised auto award in the country.
He advised industry stakeholders to desist from “negotiating” for awards from private merchants who he said give auto industry awards just to prove to their principals abroad that they were doing well in the market.
Ochonma explained that winners were arrived at, after an exhaustive, but objective evaluation of competitors in each of the categories.
He said that, the award winners which were arrived at through members’ votes, would among other things, provide consumers with sound, comparative information on vehicles that were new to the market.
Kunle Ade-Ojo, Managing Director of Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) who received the COTY award in a presentation made by the duo of Mr. Kayode Opeifa, Executive Vice-Chairman, Presidential Task Team on Apapa Gridlock alongside Ifeanyi Agwu thanked the organisers for putting up the award and for finding the Toyota Corolla worthy for the COTY award.
Ade-Ojo promised that the company would continue to uphold the integrity, which the company had been known for, while contributing positively to the development of the country’s auto industry.
Also, Special recognitions were given to Bukky Ogunnusi, Advert and Public Relations Manager of Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) and Abiona Babarinde, General Manager, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group.
