Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company (IVM) Ltd, Nnewi, Anambra State has said it is setting up an IVM CNG conversion centre for the conversion of fuel or diesel-powered vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas and Liquefied Natural Gas (CNG/LNG) powered vehicles.
This is just as the company restated its commitment to the vision of continuous investment in the production of top quality vehicles that meet the demand of the Nigerian market and other African countries.
Daily Trust reports that the federal government has declared a decade of gas and CNG/LNG-powered vehicles as a component of the initiative even as a Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, (PCNGi) is targeting the conversion of at least one million vehicles by 2027.
For Innoson, the IVM Gas conversion centre at Naze, Owerri, Imo State is one leg of its massive investment in the autogas initiative to key into the federal government’s agenda.
“The state-of-the-art facility is for the conversion and retrofitting of fuel/diesel-powered vehicles to CNG/LNG powered vehicles,” the Head of Communications, Innoson Vehicles, Mr Cornel Osigwe, explained in a statement highlighting the contributions of IVM in easing access to brand new vehicles for Nigerians.
According to Innoson, its assembly plants have been busy over the years producing top-quality vehicles for all segments of the market.
Mr Cornel added that “About two years ago, we made history by becoming the first, and so far the only, manufacturer of CNG/Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-powered vehicles in Nigeria, for which we have earned it many recognitions.
“Moreover, the presentation of Quality Management Certificate and the MANCAP Certificate by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to Innoson in 2023 is a confirmation of our adherence to high international quality standards in the manufacture of our range of vehicles.
“So, with all these production activities and sustained investments, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co, Nnewi, cannot be described as an assembly plant in ruins.”
Osigwe maintained that it was in pursuit of its avowed vision that the auto company upgraded its factory operations from manual production to semi-automation, and then to standard automation, resulting in the production capacity increasing from 10,000 vehicles to 60,000 vehicles per annum.
The company also said that rather than soft-pedalling on this vision, it has in the past few years upscaled its production technology, in addition to embarking on a plant expansion and establishment of a new production facility in Nsukka.
IVM said since its plant commenced vehicle manufacturing more than 13 years ago, it had gone beyond the initial mini buses and pick-ups, with the addition of different models of sedans, Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), family vehicles, fire trucks, as well as city and inter-city buses of various sizes.
Innoson is also investing in the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) where it is partnering with the institution to establish a plant that will be manufacturing units of 20HP agricultural tractors with the brand name Lion IVM, he said.
“Apart from the Umuezena and UNN projects, Innoson Vehicles is currently setting up an IVM CNG conversion centre at Naze, Owerri, Imo State. The state-of-the-art facility is for the conversion and retrofitting of fuel/diesel powered vehicles to CNG/LNG powered vehicles,” he added.
He also gave insight in a press statement on partnership with the military, stating that Innoson Vehicles had been collaborating with the Nigerian Air Force for the development and promotion of joint activities to sustain the maintenance of the Nigerian Air Force Air assets and other associated Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE).
He stated that the company was equally in partnership with the Nigerian Army for the modification of some of its equipment, local production of armoured fighting and utility vehicles.
The Nnewi auto plant has in the past few years exported IVM vehicles to some African countries, including Sierra Leone, Niger, Congo, Ghana, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
